Castilleja chromosa

Common Names

Desert Paintbrush, Desert Indian Paintbrush

Summary

Desert paintbrush is native to arid deserts of the southwestern United States. It is a hemiparasitic, herbaceous perennial with bristly gray-green to purple-red foliage and erect stems bearing bright red, orange, or yellow tubular bracts that resemble a paintbrush, blooming in spring through summer.

Requires a host to thrive. Compatible hosts include grasses and sedges such as Blue Grama, buffalo grass, Juncus spp., Koeleria macrantha, Carex pensylvanica, and Hierochloe odorata. Cultivation methods include direct sow near a host or sow with a host in trays, then transplant. It can be planted in fall with a host or transplanted with nearby hosts. In cultivation, it serves as a native wildflower focal point, attracts pollinators (hummingbirds and bees), and suits rock gardens, wildflower plantings, and naturalized desert landscapes. Caution: it may concentrate selenium, and should not be eaten if grown in selenium-rich soils.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-24 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun and partial shade.

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Gray-green to purple-red

Fall Foliage Color

Red, Orange, Purple, Brown

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, birds