Mid-April Wildflower: Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Arrowleaf balsamroot in the Boise foothills

What a beautiful sight it is to round the corner on a trail this time of year and spot a splash of canary yellow adorning the hillsides! Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) flowers are blooming now, and what a display they provide!

This is a very showy member of the Asteraceae (sunflower/aster) family, and is commonly found throughout the western United States in mountainside fields. Another common name is the Oregon sunflower.

All parts of the Arrowleaf balsamroot plant were used by Native Americans and today it can serve as an emergency survival food.

Read about its historical and medicinal uses from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Find out more on this plant from the U.S. Forest Service.

Have you ever seen this beautiful flower on hillsides in the West?

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