Hooker's Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza hookeri
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Hooker's Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Hooker's Balsamroot as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA, ID, NV, OR and 2 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Hooker's balsamroot produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers on sturdy stems in spring and early summer. This native perennial forms compact clumps with large, silvery-green leaves that die back in winter. It requires minimal water once established.
In an HOA neighborhood
Hooker's Balsamroot takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Large leaves can look untidy as they die back
- May appear too wild or weedy for formal landscapes
- Dormant period leaves bare spots
Wildlife value
The cheerful yellow blooms attract native bees and butterflies during the spring flowering period. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hooker's Balsamroot need?
- Hooker's Balsamroot grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Hooker's Balsamroot bloom?
- Hooker's Balsamroot blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Hooker's Balsamroot native?
- Hooker's Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri) is native to CA, ID, NV, OR and 2 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Hooker's Balsamroot toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Hooker's Balsamroot as toxic to livestock.
- What pollinators does Hooker's Balsamroot attract?
- Hooker's Balsamroot draws bees and butterflies.
- Is Hooker's Balsamroot HOA-friendly?
- Hooker's Balsamroot takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Hooker's Balsamroot? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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