Populations of Veatch’s blazingstar in Boise Front extend the range of this species north of the Snake River Plains.  These populations had previously been assumed to belong to whitestem blazingstart (Mentzelia albicaulis), which is widespread in Idaho.  However, the latter species generally lacks the prominent orange center of the flowers, and the subtending bracts Veatch’s blazingstar are usually toothed or lobed with pale margins.