Castilleja praeterita

Common Names

Salmon Creek Indian Paintbrush, Salmon Creek Paintbrush

Summary

Salmon Creek Indian Paintbrush is a branching perennial herb native to the Sierra Nevada in California, occupying dry sagebrush meadows. It reaches up to about 16–18 inches tall (40–46 cm) with hairy stems and linear leaves 3–5 cm long, and the glandular, hairy inflorescence bears pale green bracts tipped in pale red to bright yellow, with pouched flowers lying between bracts tinted purple or yellow along their edges.

In habitat, it occurs in dry gravelly meadows at elevations roughly 7,300–11,000 ft and flowers from June to August. Color varies among populations, with bracts described as yellow, pale orange to pale red, and sometimes pale yellow or pale salmon; it also supports wildlife such as butterflies and moths and is noted in native plant inventories for conservation considerations.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

18 inches

Soil Type

Dry, gravelly soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Purple or green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Red

Growth Rate

Perennial herb

Seasons of Interest

Summer

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies (and moths)