Nature photographer Dennis Kitto sits among the arrowleaf balsamroot in Kamloops.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
April 23, 2025 - 4:00 AM
Every April the vibrant yellow blooms of arrowleaf balsamroot brightens up hillsides in the Thompson-Okanagan region, and they’re a popular subject of photography and painting.
The prolific plant is the City of Kelowna’s official flower and locally known as the Okanagan sunflower.
A native perennial with deep roots, the plant is found in the southern part of the province east of the Coast Mountains, and is most abundant in mountain fields at mid to upper elevations.
A bright collection of Okanagan sunflowers grows on a mountain side in the North Okanagan.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Michael Q Foden
Arrowleaf balsamroot provides food for wildlife and livestock, attracts pollinators and has medicinal compounds, and the hardy plant can take years to fully mature.
Go here for more information on arrowleaf balsamroot.
If you get vibrant capture of arrowleaf balsamroot, send it to news@infonews.ca.
The hillsides are bright with arrowleaf balsamroot plants blooming in Vernon.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Pamela Jenkins
Arrowleaf balsamroot blooms in Savona.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Dennis Kitto
Arrowleaf balsamroot blooms beside a saskatoon bush in the North Okanagan.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Roseanne Van Ee
Okanagan sunflowers grow along Crystal Waters Trail at Kalamalka Lake in Coldstream.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Richard Stranks
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2025