Lysichiton americanus
Look out for the strikingly beautiful flower of Lysichiton americanus AGM, the yellow skunk cabbage along the north end of Streamside at Harlow Carr. Don’t get too close though, or an unpleasant smell might waft your way!
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Yellow skunk cabbage
- Family
- Araceae
- Height & spread
- 1m x 1.2m (3ft 3in x 4ft)
- Form
- Marginal aquatic herbaceous perennial
- Soil
- Any fertile and humus-rich soil at the margins of a stream or pool. Prefers a slightly acidic soil, moist and boggy
- Aspect
- Full sun to partial shade, will flower better in full sun
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Lysichiton
This is a genus of only two species, L. americanus (yellow skunk cabbage) and L. camtschatcensis (white skunk cabbage). It is a slow-growing but very invasive, erect marginal aquatic plant which spreads by short rhizomes, perfect for the bog garden.
They are found in North East Asia and western North America and have become naturalised in Britain. Lysichiton is native to peat bogs and marshes and given the right conditions, will produce its striking inflorescence from March to May.
The insignificant green flowers are bisexual and clustered on a cylindrical spike. This is surrounded by an unusual and eye-catching spathe which is slowly hidden by the large developing leaves. It has an unappealing smell that is reminiscent of skunk and garlic. This odour attracts midges and beetles that pollinate the flower. After flowering, green berries develop along the spike. Each fruit usually carries two grey-brown to red-brown seeds (5-11mm). The leaves form in basal clusters. They are large, ovate-oblong, glossy, mid to dark green leaves that are deeply veined and have a leathery texture.
All parts are poisonous and may cause severe discomfort if eaten. Contact with sap may irritate skin and eyes.
Lysichiton americanus
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Lysichiton americanus its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) highlighting its excellence as a cultivated garden plant. It can be grown in a woodland garden, as ground cover, in shallow water and the bog garden.
It is a marginal aquatic perennial with rosettes of ovate-oblong, deeply veined, leathery and glossy dark green leaves 50-120cm long.
Ovate to narrow ovate, strikingly bright yellow spathes appear around the smelly flower spike up to 40cm high in March to May.
Cultivation
- Please note, this is an invasive plant. It should not be planted in the garden anywhere where it might escape, particularly along any stretch of flowing water.
- Grow in wet, fertile, moisture retentive, humus rich soil at the margins of still or flowing water.
- Prefers a position in full sun, but will tolerate some shade.
- Allow generous distance between plants for the large leaves to develop.
- Young plants may require protection from slugs.
Propagation
- Sow ripe seed in a container of wet soil in a cold frame. Sit the container in 2-3cm of water to maintain wetness of the soil.
- Remove offsets from the base of the main plant in spring or summer.
AGM
The RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee awarded Lysichiton americanus an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
'Robust herbaceous perennial with unpleasantly-scented, bright yellow arum-like flowers 40cm tall, followed by rich green oval leaves up to 1.2m long.'