Balsamorhiza macrolepis is a species of flowering plant in the tribe Heliantheae of the family Asteraceae, known by the common name California balsamroot.

It is found only in California, where it grows in dry, open habitat, mostly in mountainous areas, mostly in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada and in the eastern Coast Ranges near San Francisco Bay.

[2][3][4] Balsamorhiza macrolepis is a taprooted perennial herb growing erect 20-60 centimeters tall.

The large lobed leaves are lance-shaped to oval and the largest, generally toward the base of the plant, may approach 50 centimeters (20 inches) in length.

[2] The inflorescence bears a single flower head lined with hairy, glandular phyllaries up to 4 centimeters long.