Mountain Indian Paintbrush
(Castilleja parviflora)
Mountain Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora)
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John Brew
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
John Brew
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: John Brew | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: John Brew | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2017-07-31T09:41:10-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Castilleja parviflora, commonly known as Mountain Indian Paintbrush, is a perennial herb that is native to alpine and subalpine meadows, as well as open forests of the Northern Pacific Coast, including the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. It typically grows up to about 40 centimeters tall and is characterized by its hairy stems, with both glandular and nonglandular hairs. The leaves are lance-shaped to oblong, a few centimeters in length. The plant is particularly noted for its inflorescence, which consists of layers of colorful bracts in shades ranging from pale yellow to bright red or pink, creating a brush-like appearance. The true flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, and sometimes red-tinted, tubular structures that emerge between the bracts. The flowering season extends from June to September, with the plant producing a vibrant display of yellow, orange, pink, red, and white flowers.
Mountain Indian Paintbrush is valued for its unique and showy inflorescences, which add a splash of color to rock gardens, wildflower meadows, and native plant landscapes. It is a popular choice for naturalistic plantings and restoration projects due to its ability to adapt to challenging environments. This plant prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It requires well-drained soils and moderate watering, being somewhat drought-tolerant once established. While it is not commonly affected by diseases, it can be difficult to cultivate outside its native range due to its semi-parasitic nature, often requiring a host plant to thrive.CC BY-SA 4.0
Mountain Indian Paintbrush is valued for its unique and showy inflorescences, which add a splash of color to rock gardens, wildflower meadows, and native plant landscapes. It is a popular choice for naturalistic plantings and restoration projects due to its ability to adapt to challenging environments. This plant prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It requires well-drained soils and moderate watering, being somewhat drought-tolerant once established. While it is not commonly affected by diseases, it can be difficult to cultivate outside its native range due to its semi-parasitic nature, often requiring a host plant to thrive.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-1.5 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to alpine and subalpine meadows, as well as open forests of the Northern Pacific Coast, including the Cascade and Rocky Mountains
Other Names
Common Names: Small-Flowered Indian Paintbrush, Small-Flowered Paintbrush, Smallflower Indian Paintbrush, Castilléjie À Petites Fleurs
Scientific Names: , Castilleja parviflora, Castilleja henryae, Castilleja desertorum, Castilleja toluccensis,
GBIF Accepted Name: Castilleja parviflora Bong.