Okanagan Sunflower

Guest post: By Sarah

The Okanagan Sunflower, Arrowleaf Balsam Root or Balsamorhiza Sagittata is found all over Western North America, but it is best known as the official flower of Kelowna.

When these bright yellow flowers pop their heads out after a long winter, the occasion is so momentous, all of the local news outlets post where the best flowers are. Surely they are the most instagrammed flower in the valley, in British Columbia, and possibly the world?

First Nation Sylix peoples would boil the roots, eat the seeds, stems and leaves of this tap-rooted perennial, but it also has many medicinal uses as well, from expectorants to burn salves. General internet consensus on taste is bitter, though I haven’t tried this myself.
TBD.