Rosy Balsamroot

In a hybrid swarm involving Balsamorhiza rosea and B. careyana, B. rosea remains relatively uncontaminated; the dominance among the hybrids appears to lie with B. careyana. A record of a hybrid between B. rosea and B. careyana from the Spokane area is doubtful.

Plants 6–10(–30) cm. Basal leaves: blades gray-green, oblong to lance-ovate, 3–10(–20) × 2–5 cm (rarely pinnately lobed), bases weakly cordate or truncate, margins crenate to serrate, apices rounded to acute, faces finely strigose to moderately scabrous (usually gland-dotted as well). Heads usually borne singly. Involucres hemispheric, 18–20 mm diam. Outer phyllaries deltate or ovate to lanceolate, 8–12 mm, not surpassing inner. Ray laminae (becoming brick-red, often drying to pink or rose, and chartaceous) (8–)15(–25) mm (hispidulous abaxially; cypselae strigose). 2n = 38.

Balsamorhiza hookeri Nuttall var. rosea (A. Nelson & J. F. Macbride) W. M. Sharp

Balsamorhiza rosea (rosy balsamroot) is a North American species of plants in the sunflower tribe within the aster family. It is native to the northwestern United States, in Washington and Oregon.

Balsamorhiza rosea is an herb up to 30 cm (12 inches) tall. It has flower heads, usually borne one at a time, with both ray florets and disc florets. Ray florets are yellow at flowering time but turn red as they age. The species grows on dry hillsides.