Western Skunk cabbage grows profusely in the Juneau Rainforest Gardens in Juneau, AK. The plant is called skunk cabbage because of the distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits when it blooms. The distinctive odor attracts pollinators, scavenging flies, beetles, and is a favorite of bears and caribou. The flowers of the Western Skunk Cabbage are produced in a spadix contained within a large, bright yellow or yellowish green spathe 30–40 cm tall and is among the first flowers to appear in spring. USDA photo by Alice Welch.
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