Castilleja affinis, commonly known as Coast Indian Paintbrush, is a perennial herb that is native to various habitats including coastal scrub, chaparral, and open woodlands in California and Arizona. It typically grows an erect stem up to about 60 centimeters in height and can be greenish to purple in color, with a texture ranging from hairless to quite hairy. The inflorescence is notable for its series of bracts in bright red to yellowish shades, which are often more conspicuous than the true flowers. The actual flowers, which appear between the bracts, are slightly longer, covered in hairs, and are green to purple lined with red or yellow. The flowering season usually spans from spring to early summer, and the blooms are quite showy, attracting pollinators such as hummingbirds.

Coast Indian Paintbrush is valued for its vibrant bracts and is often used in wildflower gardens, native plant landscapes, and restoration projects. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade and prefers medium to high amounts of water, thriving in soils with slow to medium drainage. While it is not particularly demanding, it benefits from being planted in a location that mimics its natural habitat. One of the challenges in cultivating Castilleja affinis is its hemiparasitic nature; it often grows in association with other plants, from which it derives some of its nutrients. Gardeners should be aware of this and consider companion planting to support its growth.CC BY-SA 4.0