Flower profile

Arrowleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

12states where USDA records it

6Bloomipedia state lists include it

13,185U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Balsamorhiza sagittata is a North American species of flowering plant in the tribe Heliantheae of the family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot. Also sometimes called Oregon sunflower or Okanagan Sunflower, it is widespread across western Canada and much of the western United States.
From Wikipedia's article Balsamorhiza sagittata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 12 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Nevada. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,479 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #76 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,127 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #10 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,959 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #3 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,618 records)

Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Native	April–May	2,479
Utah	Native	March–June	2,127
Idaho	Native	April–June	1,959
Wyoming	Native	May–July	1,904
Montana	Native	May–June	1,732
Nevada	Native	April–June	639

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Nevada: Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Nevada. ^{NAC 527.010}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records arrowleaf balsamroot in 12 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Weber.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Arrowleaf balsamroot a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 150
Annual precipitation range: 8 to 25 inches
Minimum root depth: 14 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Spring
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for BASA3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 189 counties across 11 states; the most are in Montana (31), Idaho (30), Utah (25).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Washington flowers

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–August

Pearly everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: July–September

Lawn daisy

Bellis perennis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: April–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile BASA3.
iNaturalist, Balsamorhiza sagittata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Balsamorhiza sagittata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Balsamorhiza sagittata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Laura Holloway via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.