Castilleja lanata
This woolly-stemmed, hemiparasitic perennial of the desert southwestern United States grows 1–3 ft tall on dry slopes at 2,500–7,000 ft, bearing dense spikes of scarlet flowers enclosed by woolly bracts that attract hummingbirds.
Common Names
Sierra Woolly Indian Paintbrush, Woolly Paintbrush
Summary
Sierra woolly Indian paintbrush is a perennial hemiparasitic herb/subshrub native to Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and northern Mexico, occurring on dry rocky slopes and hillsides in desert to upland habitats at elevations about 300–2,300 m. It grows to about 1–3 feet tall with stems densely white-woolly and leaves that are linear to narrowly oblong or lanceolate; upper leaves are typically three-lobed. Dense woolly hairs cover the plant, and an inflorescence of bright red to red-orange bracts that are deeply cleft surrounds tubular flowers with a greenish-yellow corolla, producing a striking display that attracts hummingbirds.
For cultivation it prefers full sun, low water, and well-drained soil, making it suitable for desert landscapes; propagation occurs by seed in spring (germination 1–3 months at 16–21°C) and by cuttings in late summer, and it occurs in USDA hardiness zones 9a–10b.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-3.5 feet
Spread
1-2 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9a-10b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Wide spectrum of soils; no single ideal soil.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Bloom Color
Red to orange-red; sometimes pinkish, magenta, or salmon; rarely yellow.
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green, Yellowish
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Perennial
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts hummingbirds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- A.Gray
- Publication
- Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 118 (1859)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja