What is the most common flower in Yellowstone National Park?

The most common flower in Yellowstone National Park is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, a hardy, sun-colored wildflower that grows abundantly across the park’s valleys, slopes, sagebrush flats, and open meadows. While Yellowstone is famous for more than a thousand flowering plant species, no other bloom appears as consistently, predictably, and extensively across the landscape as this bright yellow flower. Its wide distribution, long blooming season, and ability to thrive in harsh, dry environments make it the single most widespread flowering plant visitors encounter throughout late spring and summer.

Quick Reference: Most Common Flower in Yellowstone

Feature	Details
Name (Common)	Arrowleaf balsamroot
Scientific name	Balsamorhiza sagittata
Where it’s most common	Lower-elevation grasslands, sagebrush slopes, sunny south-facing hills — especially on the park’s northern range and valleys (Lamar, Hayden).
Bloom time	Late May through June (can extend into early July in cooler years).
Appearance	Large, sunflower-like yellow blooms 1–3 in across, arrow-shaped basal leaves; forms conspicuous clumps and patches that color the hillsides.
Typical habitat notes	Prefers dry, well-drained mineral soils and open, sunny sites; shows up on slopes that warm early in spring
Wildlife & ecological role	Important early-season forage for herbivores; attracts pollinators (bees, butterflies); visually dominant component of spring plant communities.
Visitor tips	Best viewed from roadside pullouts in Lamar & Hayden Valleys; peak color tends to coincide with early-season wildlife activity — arrive mid/late June for most years.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is instantly recognizable, even to those who have never seen it before. The plant produces large, sunflower-like blossoms that stand proudly above long, arrow-shaped leaves covered in soft, silvery hairs. These leaves give the plant a distinctive, luminous appearance even before flowering begins. As snow melts and the soils warm, hillsides begin to glow with yellow patches of balsamroot, creating sweeping views that have become iconic in early-summer photographs of Yellowstone.

One of the reasons this flower is so common lies in its ability to thrive in the park’s rugged and often nutrient-poor terrain. Much of Yellowstone’s landscape is shaped by volcanic activity, resulting in dry soils that many plants struggle to tolerate. Balsamroot, however, is built for resilience. Its deep taproot allows it to reach moisture far below the surface, helping it survive drought, harsh winds, and high-altitude conditions. In many sagebrush plateaus and sun-exposed meadows, balsamroot is often the dominant flowering species because it can outcompete other plants in environments where water and nutrients are limited.

The plant’s ecological value is just as important as its abundance. Arrowleaf balsamroot is a key food source for many animals that depend on it long before and after flowering. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep browse on the leaves, while ground squirrels and rodents feed on the seeds and roots. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles are drawn to the large, nectar-rich flowers. Bears occasionally dig up the nutritious roots in spring, and the seedheads support small birds later in the season. In this way, balsamroot plays a vital role in the park’s food web, anchoring early and mid-season foraging cycles.

Visitors often notice that balsamroot does not bloom all at once. Instead, flowers appear in waves depending on elevation, creating a progression that begins in lower valleys like Lamar and Hayden around late May and continues into high-country areas well into July. This staggered blooming ensures that hikers, photographers, and wildlife watchers encounter the plant in one form or another throughout much of the peak visitation season. Whether standing in scattered clusters along the roadside or blanketing entire mountain slopes, balsamroot offers a constant and familiar presence.

Its popularity among visitors also stems from its striking appearance. The flower’s shape resembles a small sunflower, with golden petals arranged around a warm brown or orange center. When sunlight touches an entire field of balsamroot, the meadows seem to glow, creating some of the most classic and beloved scenery in Yellowstone. Many travelers describe these views as one of the unexpected highlights of early-summer trips, even if they originally came to see wildlife or geothermal features.

Despite its abundance, the plant carries cultural and historical significance as well. Indigenous communities have long used balsamroot for both food and medicine. The roots were eaten roasted or ground, the seeds were pressed for oil, and the leaves were used in traditional remedies. Its presence across the Greater Yellowstone region reflects centuries of ecological continuity, and its endurance symbolizes the deep connection between people, landscape, and native plants.

Ultimately, while Yellowstone contains numerous famous flowers such as lupine, fireweed, paintbrush, and avalanche lilies, the Arrowleaf Balsamroot stands apart as the most common and widely distributed. Its ability to bloom across diverse elevations, its importance to wildlife, its resilience in demanding habitats, and its radiant, unmistakable beauty make it the flower most visitors encounter and remember. In every way, balsamroot represents the enduring spirit of Yellowstone’s wild plant communities and sets the tone for the park’s vibrant summer season.