When the Arrowleaf Balsamroot Blooms
A hike into Wagner Basin offers stunning scenery and knockout wildflower displays
There is nothing that makes me want to twirl and sing along a mountainside more than masses of arrowleaf balsamroot. Growing along the hills of the Rocky Mountain Front and our nearby island mountain ranges in May and June, and, despite late season snowstorms, when the arrowleaf balsamroot are blooming, we know spring is really here.
A member of the sunflower family, arrowleaf balsam (Balsamorhiza sagittata) root grows throughout the West in mountainous regions brightening the landscape. The entire plant is edible. The roots can be steamed or baked, and reportedly can be dried and roasted to use as a coffee substitute. I have not tried this, yet, so I cannot vouch for its flavor and how much cream you might need to make it palatable. The young shoots are eaten early in the season, and you can peel off the somewhat fuzzy flower stem to consume it, as well. The flowers are a favorite for bighorn sheep, and even the seeds are nutritious. There are many reasons to love this plant besides for its beauty.
When the arrowleaf balsamroot are blooming, one of my favorite places to visit is Wagner Basin along the Rocky Mountain Front in Sun Canyon. This is also my go-to hike for kids because it is an easy hike with a big payoff. It was also a hit with the birding group that I led during the Montana Audubon conference last spring. If I remember correctly, our group identified 80 different species during our outing!