Asteraceae
Hooker's balsamroot
Balsamorhiza hookeri
Also known as Hooker's balsam root, Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza hookeri
Flowering Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Native · Perennial · Wildflower · Drought-Tolerant · Western-Us · Yellow-Flowers · Asteraceae · Rock-Garden · Medicinal · Pollinator
Hooker's balsamroot is a cheerful native perennial in the sunflower family, producing bright yellow daisy-like blooms atop silver-green foliage each spring. It demands excellent drainage and full sun, and is extremely drought tolerant once its deep taproot is established — avoid clay soils or any standing moisture. Historically used medicinally by Indigenous peoples, it is a rewarding low-maintenance choice for dry, native, or rock gardens in the western United States.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 7 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply but infrequently; soil should dry out fully between waterings once established · Every 14-21 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.6–9
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yellow
- Foliage
- Green · Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
More Balsamorhiza
Related plants from the same genus
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Full Sun · Moderate · Moderate
Balsamorhiza careyana
Balsamorhiza careyana
Full Sun · Moderate · Moderate
Balsamorhiza serrata
Balsamorhiza serrata
Partial Sun · Moderate · Moderate
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hookeri
Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hookeri
Partial Sun · Moderate · Moderate
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