SafePlants

Balsamorhiza hookeri: Hairy Balsamroot

Balsamorhiza hookeri, commonly known as hairy balsamroot or Hooker's balsamroot, is a perennial herb found in specific regions of North America.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Balsamorhiza hookeri
• Variety: Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hirsuta
• Common Names: Hairy Balsamroot, Hooker's Balsamroot, Deltoid Balsamroot (Note: Deltoid Balsamroot usually refers to Balsamorhiza deltoidea)
• Synonyms: Balsamorhiza hirsuta
• Family: Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower Family)

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has hairy stems and leaves.

Considerations for Children

• The plant has hairy stems and leaves.

Distribution and Habitat

• East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington.
• Found in locations such as Chukar Park and the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
• Also found in California.

Morphological Characteristics

• Perennial herb growing to approximately 0.3 meters (1 foot) in height and width.
• Taprooted.
• Hairy, glandular stem, typically 20 to 60 cm tall.
• Leaves are basal, feathery, and hairy. They are 4-12 inches long and divided into linear-oblong segments.
• Bright orange-yellow petals. Flower heads are usually solitary, 3-5 inches across, with hairy involucres. Rays number 10-16, and are 1.5-3.5 cm long.

Ecological Role

• Utilized by livestock and big game and is considered a desirable forage.
• Interacts with pollinators; bees use their long, hairy tongues (proboscis) to collect pollen and nectar from the flowers.

Quirky Facts

• The text mentions that fertilizer rich in the correct nutrients can produce a florid development.