Tackling invasive skunk cabbage
Species that with human help are spreading outside their natural range are called 'invasive'. Such species are considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide.
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Skunk cabbage (Skunkkala in Norwegian) is a beautiful yellow plant that lights up in the spring and is blooming right now. It is found in some gardens around Bergen, and likes very humid areas. However, the challenge is that skunk cabbage also loves to grow outside gardens, and spreads easily with both birds and water. In Sweden and south in Europe the species has spread dramatically, in places dominating watercourses and outcompeting other species.
In the Bergen area, skunk cabbage has escaped into the wild at Kloppedaltjernet and at Gymmeland, below Bontveit. Therefore, staff of the Botanical Garden together with the State Administrator were out digging up the plants they found in these areas. If you know of other places skunk cabbage has escaped, you are welcome to let us know (Hagekurs@uib.no).
If you have this species in your garden, you should remove it and dispose in the normal waste (not compost). Although it is beautiful, king cup (Caltha pallustris), for example, is also yellow and beautiful in the spring.
Everyone must contribute to take care of our biodiversity!
Read more about 'Skunkkala' on our website (nettsider) or on Artsdatabanken.
Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum)
A coarse-grained, perennial herb from the Pacific region of western North America, from northern California north to southern Alaska. It grows up to 50 cm high (but often over 1 m wide). It spreads by seed propagation but also forms clones that can be fragmented. The fruits are juicy and spread by birds, potentially over a considerable distances (km). The species is associated with wetlands, with or without forest layers. It tolerates shade well, but only produces seeds where there is some light.
