Wyoming Paintbrush
Castilleja linariifolia · Orobanchaceae
- Form
- Perennial
- Height
- 8–24 in
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
- Blooms
- Jun, Jul, Aug
- Habitat
- Sagebrush Scrub · Montane · Subalpine
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Open Sagebrush Scrub, dry Montane slopes, and high meadows
- Form / size: Hemiparasitic perennial, 8–24 in
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Low
- Blooms: Summer orange-red bracts · Pollinator value: High
Description
A vivid paintbrush with narrow leaves and upright stems topped by flaming red to orange bracts. Like other paintbrushes it is partly parasitic on neighboring plants, which helps explain why it often appears woven into diverse wildflower communities rather than alone.
Wildlife & pollinators
Attractive to hummingbirds and long-tongued pollinators.
Habitat & range
Dry mountain slopes, open meadows, and sagebrush edges of the interior West, including the east side of the Sierra around Mammoth and farther north.
In the garden
Difficult unless grown with compatible host plants and lean mountain conditions.
Propagation
From seed, ideally with host plants nearby. Paintbrushes are not straightforward stand-alone garden subjects.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed across California (map)
- Common in summer in open Mammoth-adjacent mountain country of the Eastern Sierra.
