Symplocarpus (Araceae)

renifolius

A large stout tuberous fleshy perennial from northern Japan and surrounding areas. Emerging in early spring from a thick rhizome with the incongruous appearance at ground level of a hemi-spherical purple spathe to 20cm long, encasing a densely flowered orbicular (about golf-ball size) spadix which then expands forming seed over the summer months. The tufted orbicular deeply cordate leaves to 40cm across appear later on very long petioles. Easily grown in cool boggy-wet soil in sun or shade, about as hardy as you can get. Syn. S. foetidus var. latissimus.