Perennial, 20-80cm tall. Arrowhead shaped leaves with dense, felt-like hairs. Composite flowers with bright yellow ray flowers and yellow disk flowers, blooms in spring. Widespread and abundant at low to mid elevations, on dry stony slopes, in grasslands, and open forests. All parts of this plant are edible and provided a very important food for Interior native people. Deer and elk commonly graze balsamroot year-round.