Plant of the Month: April
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Lysichiton americanus
Common name: yellow skunk cabbage, American skunk cabbage
Family: Araceae
Vital statistics
Height and spread: 1m (34in) high and wide
Form: Herbaceous perennial
Soil: Humus-rich soil at the margins of water
Aspect: Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy throughout the British Isles |
Lysochiton makes a fantastic display, the yellow flame-shaped flowers look magnificent reflected in water and are followed by enormous paddle-shaped green leaves which remain until autumn’
Lysichiton
Lysichiton is a genus of just two species of marginal aquatic perennials from north east Asia and western north America. They are grown for their large dark green leaves and striking flowers produced in the spring.
Like all members of the family Araceae , what at first appears to be the flower is actually a sheath called the spathe that surrounds a stem called the spadix which bears the small, bisexual green flowers. The two different species are easily identified by their different coloured spathes. Lysichiton americanus has a yellow spathe while in L. camtschetcensis it is pure white. There is also a cream-coloured hybrid between the two species.
Lysichiton is so named because of the distinctive spathes. It comes from the Greek lysis, loosening or relaxing, and chiton, a clock because as the fruit ripens the spadix is released from the surrounding spathe thus allowing seed dispersal.
Lysichiton is commonly called skunk cabbage because of the heavy, musky scent it produces to attract pollinating insects to the inflorescences in the spring.
Lysichiton americanus
As its name suggests Lysichiton americanus is from western north America, where it grows along riverbanks, lakesides and in boggy areas and from where it was introduced in 1901.
Flowering between March and May, the first flowers emerge before the leaves and provide a dramatic show with their large, bright yellow spathes up to 45cm (18in) high. Later the mid-green leaves appear, leathery in texture and with a light sheen. They make a great backdrop of lush foliage to show off other marginal plants.
Seeds are freely set and mature seed heads can be found amongst the foliage in July or early August. These can be collected and sown but plants can more easily be propagated by dividing the thick, fleshy rhizome.
AGM
The RHS Floral Committee A awarded Lysichiton americanus an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
'Robust herbaceous perennial with unpleasantly-scented, bright yellow arum-like flowers 40cm tall, followed by rich green oval leaves up to 1.2m long.'
Cultivation
Skunk cabbages grow best in deep soil rich in humus and well provided with moisture. They are ideal plants for bog gardens and marginal planting around lakes or ponds and in time will make sizeable clumps. Little additional care is needed and they are generally free of pests and diseases.
As with any rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, if clumps do grow too big they can be lifted and divided. Care must be taken with the fleshly rhizomes as they can easily become damaged.
Gardeners are advised to grow skunk cabbage only in enclosed bog gardens and ponds, as along stream sides the seeds can wash downstream where extensive stands of the plant shade out other vegetation.
Propagation
Ripe seeds can be sown in good seed compost which should be kept saturated by standing in water. After germinating, prick out into individual pots for growing on. Plants will be ready for planting out in approximately three years and will flower after about another three years.
To propagate by division, remove the young crowns which form around the clump and pot up individually. Keep well watered and plant out when large enough. Once established they should flower within a couple of years.