Eastern skunk cabbage may not look—or smell—like a traditional flower, but its arrival heralds longer, warmer days ahead.

The weather has been mild, so I headed out to search for my favorite native plant, the skunk cabbage (Simplocarpus foetidus).

I’ve given up on winter. It seems that nature around me has, too. This past rainy weekend, I ventured into a nearby marsh, wading through knee-high mud under cold, glowering skies that hinted of ...

The cold winter temperatures may make it seem like spring is a long way off, but before we know it, spring will arrive, bringing warmer temperatures and spring-blooming plants.

Well before the last snowdrifts have receded, a mysterious plant is already emerging from its winter slumber. Skunk cabbage is a funky-looking, flowering wild perennial plant that is among the first ...

Wild and wacky best describes our current weather pattern. This is no surprise, for March typically displays swings, sometimes severe, from mild and warm to snowy and stormy. On March 4 I drove to the ...

During a “normal” spring (of the last five springs, I consider only 2011 to fall into this category; the others were either early or late), the second half of May is when this greening month really ...

With an off-putting scent and maroon flower buds that blend in with fall’s leaf litter, skunk cabbage is not on the radar of many Minnesota hikers. The plant blooms early and looks bizarre enough to ...

It sounds harmless, but skunk cabbage is a plant that can quickly become a nuisance if you find it nearby. Known for its strong smell and ability to spread easily, it’s one of those species that may ...

One of the first native plants to bloom in the spring is the skunk cabbage also known as swamp cabbage and other names that refer to the shape of its leaves. It was used by Native Americans for ...