Arrowleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Drought tolerant, long-lived perennial native with yellow sunflower-like flowers, blooming April to July. Deep, thick taproot tolerant of fire, grazing, trampling and drought; seedlings slow to establish. Prefers deep, fine to medium textured well-drained soils. Often found in large patches. Common in sagebrush communities as well as mountain shrub communities, woodlands and open forests; up to 10,000 ft. elevation. Thought to have potential for use in oil shale and mining reclamation. Valuable spring and summer forage for mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn. Attractive to native pollinators. Sage-grouse eat the young shoots and flower buds.