Bloomipedia
Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
Photo: Charlie Wanzer via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Eastern skunk cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is a flowering plant in the Araceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly February–April across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Eastern skunk cabbage is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 16 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–April.

23states where USDA records it
16Bloomipedia state lists include it
71,425U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as skunk cabbage or eastern skunk cabbage, is a low-growing plant that grows in wetlands and moist hill slopes of eastern North America. Bruised leaves present an odor reminiscent of skunk.

  • It belongs to the Araceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 9,668 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #5 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 8,675 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #9 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 8,655 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #11 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,556 records)
Bloom time in the 16 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MassachusettsNativeMarch–April9,668
PennsylvaniaNativeFebruary–April8,675
New YorkNativeMarch–April8,655
MarylandNativeJanuary–March6,150
OhioNativeFebruary–April5,479
New JerseyNativeFebruary–April5,161
MichiganNativeMarch–April4,941
VirginiaNativeJanuary–March4,343
WisconsinNativeMarch–May3,699
ConnecticutNativeMarch–April3,419
IllinoisNativeFebruary–April2,749
IndianaNativeFebruary–April1,860
MaineNativeMarch–May1,473
Rhode IslandNativeMarch–April831
West VirginiaNativefew records (35)658
DelawareNativefew records (22)615

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 14 of our 16 states.
See each state
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S5, secure in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Indiana.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: TN (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Illinois. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Burning and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. Nausea, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing, and diarrhea may also occur.” They also note: “The uncurled leaves and roots are edible.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Skunk Cabbage” (Symplocarpus foetidus) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Eastern skunk cabbage in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, York.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Kings, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Onondaga, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, Wyoming.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Eastern skunk cabbage a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.0 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.0 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
150
Annual precipitation range
40 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
· Spring to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SYFO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Spathyema foetida.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 483 counties across 21 states; the most are in Virginia (77), Pennsylvania (64), Ohio (60).

More from the Araceae family (7 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Jack-in-the-pulpit, Western skunk cabbage, Green dragon, Taro, Golden pothos, Swiss cheese plant, Elephant ear.

More Massachusetts flowers

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

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🌼 Blooms in MA: May
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–July
Striped wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata)

Striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

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🌼 Blooms in MA: July

Sources