Description
A strict endemic to serpentine-influenced soils of the Klamath-Siskiyou region in southwest Oregon and northwest California, silky balsamroot grows in rocky basins and slopes, or amongst the cobbles along dry, seasonal streambanks at low to mid elevations in open areas amongst Jeffrey pines woodlands. From a deep taproot, silky balsamroot grows to a height of 10-15″ tall and has large, showy yellow flowers that bloom in April-May. It is a member of the Asteraceae (Aster) plant family. The most identifiable characteristic of silky balsamroot is its silvery, lobed leaves. Each leaf has many pairs of oppositely-arranged, oval-shaped lobes that are coated in hairs. The specific epithet, “sericea,” refers to the pubescence on the leaves, in other words, silky! This unique beauty is a lovely species, and it is attractive to many different pollinator species, including butterflies, bees, and pollinating flies and beetles. We can only supply a small amount of this seed each year, and may not have it every year.
Silky balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sericea) seed packets contain approximately 35 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Instructions
60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early winter and let nature do the work, or in areas with mild winters, artificial methods may be needed.
