Castilleja affinis

Common Names

Coast Indian Paintbrush, Indian Paintbrush, Tiburon Paintbrush

Summary

Coast Indian Paintbrush is a perennial herb native to western North America from Washington to Baja California, growing on hills and mountain slopes along the coast and inland, often on serpentine substrates at elevations near 0–500 m. It is an erect plant up to 30–60 cm tall with greenish to purple stems, leaves variable up to 8 cm long, and an inflorescence of leaf-like bracts that are bright red to yellowish, with flowers longer and hairy between the bracts; fruit is a capsule just over 1 cm long. It is hemi-parasitic, deriving some nutrients from a host plant.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun and dry, rocky or sandy, well-drained soils in coastal regions; water is very low once established, with a moderate growth rate. It is suitable for butterfly gardens and can be used in landscapes as a container plant, erosion control, or filler in Mediterranean, Ranch, and Seascape designs; propagation is through seeds as a hemi-parasite requiring host plants such as lupine or bunch grasses, with seed germination observed and aided by fridge storage (4–5 weeks in damp perlite).

Lifecycle

Annual, Perennial

Height

6-24 inches

Spread

Unknown

Hardiness Zones

Zones unknown

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Sandy loam, rocky soil with sand, serpentine soils, pH 5.5–8.2

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.5-8.2, Neutral

Bloom Color

Orange, Red, Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green to purple

Fall Foliage Color

Orange

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall (optional, if flowering into September)

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies