Balsamorhiza is a genus of perennials in the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, dandelions and lettuce. Growing from 8-36″ tall, plants typically have fleshy taproots, large basal leaves and erect stems that carry solitary, flowerheads. Each flowerhead is made up of bright yellow ray florets surrounding a center of disc florets. The entire plant is edible and nutritious but not considered tasty. Native Americans used the plants for medicine and food. Wildlife and livestock find the plants palatable. The flowerheads may attract pollinators. Native to western North America, balsamroot likes full sun and moderately moist to dry, well-drained soil.
The genus name, Balsamorhiza, comes from the Greek words βάλσαμον (bálsamon) meaning balsam, and ρίζα (rhiza) meaning root and refers to the fragrance of the root.
Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund
The environmental conditions in the Southwest have resulted in at least two species of native balsamroots but they may be native to other places too. The balsamroots described here are native to at least one of the states in the Southwest.
Montane Balsamfoot (Balsamorhiza hookeri)
Highly divided arrow-shaped leaves are up to 16″ long, have silky hairs and grow from a long taproot to produce a clump. From spring to mid summer, leafless flowering stems arise and produce terminal yellow flower heads 1-3″ across. Each flower head has 10-21 fringe-tipped ray flowers surrounding a center of numerous disc flowers. The flowerheads attract native bees.
Alternate Name/s: Hooker’s Balsamroot
Native Range: Arizona as well as parts of the Rocky Mountain area and Midwest
Habitat: Grassy, rocky, open woods at elevations of 2500-5000 ft.
Type: Perennial
Height: 12″
Bloom Time: Spring into early summer
Bloom Color: Yellow
Light: Full sun
Soil: Rocky, dry, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund, Wikipedia
Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)
Arrow-shaped basal leaves are carried on petioles 2-18″ long and form silvery gray tufts. Upper stem leaves are linear to elliptic and smaller. All leaves are silvery white to green. Eight to twenty-four hairy, glandular stems arise that are 8 to 24 inches tall and carry 2-3″ wide yellow flower heads from late spring to summer.
Alternate Name/s: Breadroot, Oregon sunflower, spring sunflower
Native Range: Arizona as well as places in the midwest, Rocky Mountain area, and Pacific Coast.
Habitat: Sandy plains and forest openings at elevations of 4000-8000 ft.
Type: Perennial
Height: Up to 31″
Bloom Time: Late spring into summer
Bloom Color: Yellow
Light: Sun to part shade
Soil: Silty to loam, dry to medium moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Photo Credit: Thayne Tuason, Wikimedia Commons
For the purpose of this article, the Southwest comprises the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Other states often associated with the Southwest are included in other geographic areas. The key factor linking these four states is aridity. The area includes high dry plains and true deserts as well as spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Only Texas has a coast on the ocean which brings east Texas and Oklahoma more precipitation and humidity than elsewhere in the area. In addition to the ocean, the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers are significant water features in the area. Although temperatures in the mountains can be cool, most of the area experiences hot temperatures for a long period each year.