Castilleja rubida
Castilleja genus alpine perennial native to the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon, restricted to limestone habitats above 8,000 ft with a handful of populations, and globally ranked G2 for conservation concern.
Common Names
Little Reddish Indian Paintbrush, Purple Alpine Paintbrush, Wallowa Alpine Paintbrush
Summary
Purple Alpine Paintbrush is a perennial herb native to northeastern Oregon, adapted to subalpine limestone habitats on rocky slopes and ridges at elevations of 2,200–3,000 m. It grows 0.5–1.5 dm tall from a woody caudex with a taproot, has linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves, and features an inflorescence with purple to burgundy or lavender bracts; the corolla measures 12–15 mm and blooms in July–August.
In cultivation, it prefers rock crevices with a favorable water regime and poor, drained soil, with shading in summer and potential alpine-house conditions on eastern slopes; propagation is by seed sown in spring (germination 1–3 months at 16–21°C) or by cuttings in late summer.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-6 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Gravelly, limestone-rich soils
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soils
Soil pH
Alkaline (limestone) soils
Bloom Color
Purple
Bloom Time
Summer (July–August)
Foliage Color
Green to purple
Fall Foliage Color
Green to purple
Growth Rate
Relatively Stable (≤10% change)
Seasons of Interest
Summer**
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Cuttings
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Piper
- Publication
- Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 398 (1900)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja