Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is in the Arum Family family (Araceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,440 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Western Skunk Cabbage: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Skunk Cabbage
Lysichiton americanus, also called western skunk cabbage (USA), yellow skunk cabbage (UK), American skunk-cabbage (Britain and Ireland) or swamp lantern, is a plant found in swamps and wet woods, along streams and in other wet areas of the Pacific Northwest, where it is one of the few native species in the arum family. The plant is called skunk cabbage because of the distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits when it blooms. This odor will permeate the...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Skunk Cabbage by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,326 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 742 | April | Mar–May |
| California | 173 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Alaska | 165 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 21 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 9 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Arum Family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Western Skunk Cabbage?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Western Skunk Cabbage most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, Oregon, California.