I am making bog/marsh "pockets" in my garden. I live in Southeastern NE, zone 5a. Skunk cabbage isn't tropical, but has the effect to me. This is something I would like to try. Could anyone who grows this share any information with me? Thanks.
Skunk cabbage advice?
The only info I can give you is there is lots of people here who really want to get rid if it and find that no matter what they do they cannot get rid of it. And it smells. If I was you, I would think really hard about putting it in, many other things have the tropical look without the bad habits.
I think if you started a thread asking what kinds of plants would work, you could get some good advice. I think skunk cabbage is a disaster in the making. In a year or so you may be starting a thread that reads something like, HELP cannot get rid of skunk cabbage!!! IMHO
I bought a molded pond liner at a garage sale for $5. I was going to put it in there, so it couldn't go any where else. I didn't know if the leaves would stay good in our hot summers either. So they smell that bad do they? For very long? Thanks for your input.....
Ummmm, they call it skunk cabbage, it smells just like a skunk. I know of a lot of big leafed things that will grow here but not so familiar with what will do well in your area. Check with one of the gardening threads that has a colder zone like yours and ask what you can use as a substitute. I know they can help.
All I can think of that would work for you is rhubarb, awesome leaves and I love to eat it. It likes the damp, you can put it on the edge of your pond, not so sure about being in the water, but they like it damp. And its prettier than skunk cabbage by far. I think there may be some that are grown for decorative not eating as well.
I do have an ornamental rhubarb, I have it in too dry of a place, so it doesn't get very big. My leaves die back by summer also. I should move it to a moister spot and see if that would eliminate that issue. Something that looks good all season is what I really need to find. Thanks again.
Skunk Cabbage bloom has a 'skunky' smell to it but you'd have to stick your nose in it to get the smell. The foliage does not smell at all unless you break the leaf in half, even then it's not bad. It's a beautiful plant and one I look forward to seeing each January. It does go dormant in the summer. I'll snap a picture of some that are growing by my house. I also use the leaves when I make concrete projects.
Cannas are often used in water features. They can be put, pot and all, down into the water. The more water a canna gets, the happier it is. If the water is too deep then the pot is usually set on a block in the water. I don't know if they would be hardy in your area. You might have to take them in for the winter and set them back out again in the spring.
Karen
Glendalekid, I do love cannas also, and have a few. It would be nice if they were hardy here, but they're not. Would save a lot of fall and spring work! Thanks
datdog, I had no idea that the skunk cabbage goes dormant in the summer. Glad to find that out! Do love the pictures I've seen. Have to do more thinking about this one. thanks
7oaks,
Since you're going to use a pot, you could use cannas and then just move them into the garage or something for the winter after they go dormant.
Karen
Our garage freezes, so I always dig them up and put them in the basement, it's not heated. For most of them, that works out okay. I always lose some of the hybrids.
7oaks,
Basement is good -- it qualifies as an "or something." I really admire all you folks who grow plants that have to be dug up and then replanted every year.
Karen
My husband just shakes his head and thinks "she is so nuts!" But I do really enjoy cannas.