Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Balsamorhiza sagittata is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to California to the Dakotas, where it grows in many types of habitat from mountain forests to grassland to desert scrub. It is drought tolerant. This is a taprooted perennial herb growing a hairy, hairy stem 20 to 60 centimeters tall. The branching, barky root may extend over two meters deep into the soil. The basal leaves are generally triangular in shape and are large, approaching 50 centimeters in maximum length. Leaves farther up the stem are linear to narrowly oval in shape and smaller. The leaves have untoothed edges and are coated in fine to rough hairs, especially on the undersides. The flower cluster bears one or more flower heads. Each head has a center of long yellowish tubular disc florets and a fringe of bright yellow ray florets, each up to 4 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairless achene about 8 millimeters long. Grazing animals find the plant palatable, especially the flowers and developing seed heads. Many Native American groups, including the Nez Perce, Kootenai, Cheyenne, and Salish, utilized the plant as a food and medicine.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

8 - 24 in Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 3 mos. stratification ( Young and Evans 1979). Check periodically to remove and pot germinating seeds.

Site type

Open places

Plant communities

Northern Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Spotted Straw Sun Moth

Heliothis phloxiphaga