Is this Skunk Cabbage

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by Humberboy, Jun 24, 2025.

  1. Humberboy

    Humberboy Gardener

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    upload_2025-6-24_12-48-50.jpeg Hi All is this Skunk Cabbage. 3 or 4 have appeared in my border but I am not certain if it is. An Online plant identifier says it is but it could not confirm that my Delphinium was a Delphinium and I knew it was.
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Skunk cabbage tends to grow in boggy ground I think.:scratch:

    Something familiar about that plant but not sure.
     
  3. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    @Humberboy The leaf doesn't look right to me. They also normally appear in early spring.
    They are also plants of wet places, marshes, stream sides. If you haven't sown seed and there aren't any locally it's unlikely to be popping up in your garden in several places.
     
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    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      Hi

      the leaves remind me of Eryngium
       
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      • Thevictorian

        Thevictorian Super Gardener

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        It's not a skunk cabbage, I have that in my pond and it's leaves are very different.

        I think it does look very eryngium like. They are prolific self seeders as well.
         
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        • Purple Streaks

          Purple Streaks Gardener

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          The leaves remind me of a eryngium I had a few years ago bluelike stems with half inch thistle type flowers also tinged a silvery blue.. It also reminds me of Swiss chard I have in my garden.
           
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          • Humberboy

            Humberboy Gardener

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            Hi All. Thanks for these replies. They could be Eryngium as I had one very near by last year but I moved it to the back of the border as it was too big at the front. I will keep an eye on them and see what comes of them.
            Once again thanks for the feed back
             
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            • fairygirl

              fairygirl Total Gardener

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              Definitely not skunk cabbage, but the easiest way to determine if it's desirable or not [probably the latter!] is to wait for it to flower. You can then nip those out before they set seed, or pull it out completely, depending on what time you have for the job.
              If it's something good, then that's a great result :smile:
               
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              • Ergates

                Ergates Enthusiastic amateur

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                Agree, definitely not skunk cabbage, leaves aren’t right.
                 
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