Balsamorhiza sagittata

Balsamorhiza sagittata Common Names arrowleaf balsamroot Family Composites, Sunflower Flower Color Yellow Plant Type Herb Location McCall, McCall and many locations Native Yes Weed No

The Arrowleaf blasamroot is a perennial plant that grows to be 20-60 cm tall. The individual flowers look like sunflowers and the plant is a member of the Composite or Aster family.

Balsamroot provided a tough, starchy root that was used as a carbohydrate source by some Native American groups. The Nez Perce, Okanagan-coville, Okanagan, and Thompson ate different parts of this plant. They traditionally roasted and ground the seeds, peeled and eaten raw or baked the young shoots and cooked the roots.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a good crop for live stock.