# western skunk cabbage (*Lysichiton americanus*) Western skunk cabbage is a unique plant that grows in wet areas. It has big, green leaves and a bright yellow flower that looks like a hood. This plant can smell a bit stinky, but it helps nature by providing food for some animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 31 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![western skunk cabbage](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/WesternSkunkCabbage.JPG&width=800) Photo: Martin Bravenboer, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WesternSkunkCabbage.JPG) ## Appearance The western skunk cabbage has large, glossy green leaves that can grow over a meter long. Its unique flower features a bright yellow, hooded spathe that wraps around a central stalk, appearing before the leaves in early spring. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Alismatales - **Family:** Araceae - **Genus:** Lysichiton ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, this smelly plant is actually a wild cousin to beautiful calla lilies! - Its huge, glossy leaves can grow over a meter long, making a great hiding spot! - This plant can warm itself, making its flower up to 20°C (68°F) warmer than the air! - Wow, it's one of the first plants to bloom, often pushing right through snow! ## Special abilities - **Internal Heater:** western skunk cabbage can generate its own heat, melting surrounding snow to bloom incredibly early. - **Stinky Signal:** western skunk cabbage has a foul odor that lures flies and beetles, its crucial early-spring pollinators. - **Water Log Survival:** western skunk cabbage can thrive in mucky, low-oxygen wetland soils where most other plants cannot grow. - **Giant Solar Panels:** western skunk cabbage has massive leaves that unfurl to capture maximum sunlight in shady, wet habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 15-40 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — A crucial early spring food source - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on the emerging leaves - **Pollinates:** Flesh Fly (*Helicobia rapax*) — Attracted by its warm, stinky flowers - **Shelter:** [Northern Red-legged Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-legged-frog) (*Rana aurora*) — Finds cool shade under its huge leaves ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or eat any plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify western skunk cabbage? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is western skunk cabbage? 30-150 cm ### How wide does western skunk cabbage spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on western skunk cabbage? 15-40 cm ### When does western skunk cabbage bloom? Spring ### Is western skunk cabbage edible? No ### Is western skunk cabbage toxic? High ### What is western skunk cabbage's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Regional Parks Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/regional-parks-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Sitka National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sitka-national-historical-park) — US · National Park - [Union Bay Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/union-bay-natural-area) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see western skunk cabbage](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-skunk-cabbage) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Western Skunk Cabbage: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-skunk-cabbage)