prairie wildflower
Narrowleaf Arnica
Arnica angustifolia
Also known as Alpine Arnica
1 of 3Native to Alaska and Montana and Canada
Circumboreal, southern in high mountains to British Columbia and Alberta (reported from Beaverhead Mount, Montana)
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones 1–7 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jun–Aug Flowering time
- Height up to 16 in to 41 cm
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and lean, dry soil. Its yellow flowers peak in July. At up to 16 in, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders. Hardy in USDA zones 1–7.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Narrowleaf Arnica's yellow flowers bloom June to August, peaking in July. This midsummer display draws butterflies and moths.
Narrowleaf Arnica blooms yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
also Arctic Fritillary, Old World Swallowtail, Hecla Sulphur +8 more
Astarte Fritillary, Jutta Arctic, Phyciodes pulchella tutchone, Northern Blue, Bog Fritillary, Clossiana chariclea, Lycaena feildeni, Arctic Blue - Moths Alpine Arches also Lasionycta leucocycla, Sympistis zetterstedtii
- Bees Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee also Lawrence's Miner Bee, Hoplitis hypocrita, Ceratina neomexicana
- Also visited by
- Flower flies: Yellow-margined Marsh Fly, Platycheirus carinatus
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Alaska and Montana and CanadaUnited States (2): AK, MT. Canada (10): AB, BC, MB, NL, NT, NU, ON, QC, SK, YT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Circumboreal, southern in high mountains to British Columbia and Alberta (reported from Beaverhead Mount, Montana)The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1–7 · Canadian 0–6The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Dry, sandy or rocky soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 16 in (to 41 cm)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jun–AugWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.