# arrowleaf balsamroot (*Balsamorhiza sagittata*) The arrowleaf balsamroot is a bright yellow flower that grows in sunny places. Its big, arrow-shaped leaves help it soak up the sun and stay strong in the wild. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 29 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Balsamroot ![arrowleaf balsamroot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arrowleaf_balsamroot%252C_Balsamorhiza_sagittata_%2816690747592%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arrowleaf_balsamroot%252C_Balsamorhiza_sagittata_%2816690747592%29.jpg) ## Appearance The arrowleaf balsamroot has large, distinct arrowhead-shaped, silvery-green leaves. Its bright yellow, sunflower-like flowers stand tall on sturdy stalks, often forming vast golden carpets on dry hillsides. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Wyethia ## Interesting facts - Its large seeds are a favorite snack for many hungry critters, especially birds! - Native Americans used every part of this plant, from its roots to its seeds! - The plant's leaves are covered in tiny hairs, making them feel soft and fuzzy! - You might find thousands of these sunny flowers blooming together on a single hillside! ## Special abilities - **Taproot Dynamo:** Arrowleaf balsamroot has a long taproot that helps it find deep water, surviving dry conditions. - **Underground Pantry:** Arrowleaf balsamroot stores food in its root, allowing it to regrow even after fires or droughts. - **Silvery Sun Armor:** Its fuzzy, silvery leaves reflect sunlight, protecting it from intense sun and reducing water loss. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-80 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Collects nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — Feeds on leaves and flowers. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on the plant's foliage. - **Eats:** [Dark-eyed Junco](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — Feeds on ripe seeds. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify arrowleaf balsamroot? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is arrowleaf balsamroot? 30-80 cm ### How wide does arrowleaf balsamroot spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on arrowleaf balsamroot? 5-10 cm ### When does arrowleaf balsamroot bloom? Spring-early summer ### Is arrowleaf balsamroot edible? Yes ### Is arrowleaf balsamroot toxic? None ### What is arrowleaf balsamroot's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [AMK Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amk-ranch) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Andy Chambers Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andy-chambers-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see arrowleaf balsamroot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/arrowleaf-balsamroot) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arrowleaf-balsamroot)