Castilleja rupicola
A small western North American hemiparasitic perennial in the Orobanchaceae with unbranched stems 10–20 cm tall, bright scarlet bracts, and red to orange flowers that bloom June–August on rocky cliffs and slopes from southern British Columbia to central Oregon.
Common Names
Cliff Paintbrush, Cliff Indian Paintbrush
Summary
Cliff paintbrush is a hemiparasitic perennial native to southern British Columbia through Oregon, occurring in temperate biomes on rocky cliffs and slopes. From a woody base, several unbranched stems reach about 10–20 cm in height, with leaves that are linear to lance-shaped and upper leaves divided into 3–7 sharply cut lobes. The inflorescence is a bracted terminal spike with bright scarlet bracts; corollas are greenish and 25–35 mm long; calyxes are red and 15–25 mm long, with flowering in late spring and fruits that are capsules with many seeds.
Habitat includes rocky or cinder slopes or vertical cliffs at elevations around 4000'–7000', with native range from southern British Columbia through the Cascades to central Oregon. Cultivation preferences include rocky, well-drained, poor soil with low moisture and full sun; winter humidity protection is recommended, and alpine greenhouse option is available. It is rare in the Cascade Mountains.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-10 inches
Spread
4-8 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun.
Soil Type
Rocky, well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Bloom Color
Scarlet (crimson)
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Yellowish
Fall Foliage Color
Red, Scarlet or crimson, Yellowish
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Piper ex Fernald
- Publication
- Erythea 6: 45 (1898)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja