Bill's Botanical Forays

Carey’s Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza careyana A. Gray) is found on east of the Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon. This member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae) is not as widespread as the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, but is common in its more limited range. The leaves are similar in shape to the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, but not as hairy and the margins are more wavy. The plants pictured here were growing at the Vantage Overlook next to Interstate 90 along the Columbia River Gorge.

It thrives in a wide variety of habitats, but seems to like drier locations than its relative Arrowleaf Balsamroot. The plant was named for Asa Gray’s botanist friend John Carey.