Castilleja subinclusa var. franciscana
A perennial herb endemic to California occupying coastal strand and mixed evergreen forest along the northern California coast from southern Mendocino/Sonoma counties to Santa Cruz County, with a strongly two-colored red-and-yellow inflorescence that blooms March–July and supports caterpillars and a diversity of butterflies and moths, var. franciscana growing in the coastal sage scrub plant community, and the taxon was considered but rejected in 2010 for being too common.
Common Names
Franciscan Paintbrush, Longleaf Indian Paintbrush
Summary
Franciscan paintbrush is a perennial herb native to and endemic to California in the Orobanchaceae family, occurring in coastal strand and mixed evergreen forest communities. It bears red to orange flowers with inflorescences often strongly two-colored red and yellow.
As a native coastal California plant, it is suitable for native plantings and provides wildlife value, supporting caterpillars and butterflies and contributing to pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-4 feet
Bloom Color
Red and yellow
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Gray-green to purple
Fall Foliage Color
Red
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Variety
- Author
- (Pennell) G.L.Nesom
- Publication
- Phytologia 73: 409 (1992)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja
- Species
- Castilleja subinclusa
Synonyms
Castilleja franciscana Castilleja subinclusa subsp. franciscana