Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Mountain meadows and slopes; also on coastal bluffs; widespread and common.
Flowers: May-September
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, hummingbirds
Perennial herb to 80 cm tall; stems in small clusters, often branched above.
Simple, narrow with pointed tip; inflorescence leaves and bracts bright red, sometimes with a few small lobes.
Inconspicuous, greenish, tubular flowers, surrounded by a much showier bright red calyx and inflorescence bracts.
2-celled capsules with many seeds.
A few traits to look for include the narrow unlobed leaves; bright red inflorescence; sharply pointed calyx lobes, and greenish flowers much longer than calyx. Castilleja is a difficult genus; consult technical keys.
Our most common Castilleja in the mountians.
Publication: Fl. Bor.-Amer. (Hooker) 2(9): 106. 1838.
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var. dixonii – Dixon's paintbrush
Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to northwestern Oregon. -
var. miniata – scarlet paintbrush Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes region.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Castilleja miniata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Castilleja miniata checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Castilleja miniata information.
E-Flora BC: Castilleja miniata atlas page.
CalPhotos: Castilleja miniata photos.
USDA Plants: Castilleja miniata information.
