Castilleja foliolosa

Common Names

Woolly Indian Paintbrush, Texas Paintbrush, Texas Indian Paintbrush, Felt Paintbrush, Woolly Paintbrush

Summary

Woolly Indian Paintbrush is a perennial or subshrub native to California and northern Baja California, occurring in chaparral, rocky slopes, and coastal sage scrub from near sea level to about 1900 m. It grows about 0.1–1.0 m tall and 0.2–1.0 m wide, with dense woolly white or gray hairs on stems, leaves, and bracts; the inflorescence bears layers of bracts tipped in bright orange-red to dull yellowish green surrounding greenish, pouch-shaped flowers, and it blooms from February to June.

It is hemi-parasitic, attaching to host plants such as Adenostoma, Trichostema, or Artemisia californica to obtain nutrients. It prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soils; water is needed only in the first year, after which drought tolerance develops, and it tolerates sandy soils. Distribution includes California and northern Baja California across coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, and it occurs in USDA hardiness zones 7–10; flowers are visited by hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Annual, Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained dry rocky soil with pH 6.0–8.0; textures include clay, loam, or sand.

Soil Drainage

Good to excellent drainage

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Red to Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Gray

Fall Foliage Color

Orange-red to yellowish-green, Whitish or grayish

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Semi-deciduous

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds