Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist meadows and woodlands, lowlands to subalpine.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, flies, wasps
Tall perennial herbs from thick rhizomes, the simple stem glabrous below, 1.5-2 m. tall.
Leaves numerous, alternate, cauline, ovate to broadly elliptic, 2-3 dm. long and over as broad, strongly sheathing at base, reduced upward.
Inflorescence a dense panicle, 3-6 dm. long, stiffly erect, the lower branches not drooping; pedicels 1-3 mm. long; perianth off-white to greenish tinged, saucer-shaped; tepals 6, distinct, lanceolate to elliptic, broadly clawed at base, 10-17 mm. long, nearly entire and glabrous; stamens 6, about as long as the tepals.
Capsule 2-3 cm. long, glabrous, narrowly ovoid, tipped with the persistent styles.
Publication: J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2. 3: 103. 1855.
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var. californicum – skunk cabbage, California wild hellebore
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var. caudatum – skunk cabbage, tailed wild hellebore
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Veratrum californicum in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Veratrum californicum checklist entry
OregonFlora: Veratrum californicum information
E-Flora BC: Veratrum californicum atlas page
CalPhotos: Veratrum californicum photos
