Plant Guide: Cutleaf balsamroot: Balsamorhiza macrophylla Nutt.

Abstract

Livestock and big game utilize cutleaf balsamroot. It is moderately palatable to grazing animals during the spring and early summer but has low protein content (Walter, 2007). Leaves are grazed lightly and flowers are often eaten. Horses are especially fond of the flowers (Plants of Utah, Online). The plant becomes dry and worthless as forage by midsummer (Forest Service, 1937; Herman, 1966). It attracts large numbers of native pollinators. It may have some value for restoration but is not a dominant or major species in its area of adaptation.

Citation

St. John, Loren; Tilley, Derek. 2012. Plant Guide: Cutleaf balsamroot: Balsamorhiza macrophylla Nutt. Aberdeen, ID: U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. 3 p.