This is the plant for which Chicago is named. In Illinois Indian language, its name was Chicagoua. This name probably was applied as a metaphor for the skunk-like odor of the leaves when crushed by walking on them. Chicagoua basically means skunk, from the spraying of defensive liquid. Contrary to popular belief, it does not mean offensive odor, which would be matchi miaganoue. This information appears in 17th-century Jesuit linguistic manuscripts.

The leaves emerge in April, and then the plant is edible; but when flowers emerge, the flavor turns very pungent, and most people would deem it inedible. If eaten at this flowering stage or later in its life cycle, it produces a highly odorific breath which must be experienced to be believed.