Balsamorhiza sagittata
Arrow leaved balsam root
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrow leaved balsam root) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive sagittate entire leaves with cordate bases, canescent-tomentose.
Arrow leaved balsam root is a California native perennial found in the high Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and eastern California mountains in open forest and scrub habitats at elevations of 1,400 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 2.5 to 4 centimeters long with distinctive wide ray heads. Growing with stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that are short-tomentose and minutely glandular, it forms robust clumps in dry mountain landscapes. Its large basal leaves are widely triangular, 20 to 50 centimeters long, with a heart-shaped base, soft-hairy on the upper surface and densely woolly-white on the underside. The plant produces numerous flower heads with outer phyllaries 10 to 25 millimeters long, giving it a prominent and distinctive appearance in its mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinctive sagittate entire leaves with cordate bases, canescent-tomentose
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open forest, scrub
Elevation: 1400-2600 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Alberta, South Dakota, Colorado
Bloom period
Balsamorhiza sagittata blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Wyethia: Balsamorhiza leaves cluster at ground level; Wyethia has several leaves scattered up the stem.; vs Agnorhiza: Balsamorhiza has entirely basal leaves; Agnorhiza has leaves along the stem.; vs Crepis: Balsamorhiza has large sunflower-like yellow flowers; Crepis has dandelion-like flowers with only ray petals.; vs Arnica: Balsamorhiza leaves are at the base only; Arnica has opposite pairs of leaves on the stem.; vs Pallenis: Balsamorhiza stems are nearly leafless; Pallenis has many leaves densely packed up the stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Balsamorhiza sagittata native to California?
Yes. Balsamorhiza sagittata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Balsamorhiza sagittata bloom?
Balsamorhiza sagittata blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Balsamorhiza sagittata belong to?
Balsamorhiza sagittata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Balsamorhiza.
What habitat does Balsamorhiza sagittata grow in?
Balsamorhiza sagittata grows in Open forest, scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.