Indian Paintbrush

Description

Castilleja coccinea also known as Indian Paintbrush, Painted Cup and Scarlet Paintbrush, is favored by spring wetness, summer dryness, and late-summer mowing. This species can be hard-to-grow, and is a biennial or annual. Although seeds can germinate the same season as when they are released, usually they germinate the following spring they produce a basal rosette that will flower the following season. Indian Paintbrush is a hemi-parasitic organism, meaning it can photosynthesize and produce some of its own energy, but it relies on host plants to supply most of its nutrition. To “steal” from other plants, it has root-like structures called haustoria that pierce the roots of surrounding plants to use their carbo- hydrates and other nutrients. The plants it favors are many, ranging from grasses to prairie forbs, and woody plants. It has been observed forming haustoria on inert objects, such as pebbles and dead plants. The genus name “Castilleja” is named after Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo, and “coccinea” means “red,” referring to the red bracts that surround the flowers. Bract color can range from red to orange and occasionally yellow. The Native Americans used the flowers as food, a medicine for rheumatism, a love charm in food, and the green stems and roots as a poison because of the toxic properties.

A variety of insects visit paintbrush flowers, especially bees, but this species is especially adapted for pollination by hummingbirds. Hummingbirds have long bills that allow them to reach the nectar at the end of long, tubular flowers.

We have no available information at this time. Please let us know if you have any experience with this species.

Indian Paintbrush is a beauty that prefers full-sun sites with medium-dry to medium-wet soils. It normally blooms in May through June, but very rarely you may see blooms as late as October. It does best when surrounded by other native plants. In a wildflower meadow it is a striking flower and is one of the earliest to bloom, which means it may be worth planting a few seeds to see if it can find a niche in which to thrive. It isn’t too tall but because of its early bloom time, the flowers show off beautifully. It is not considered aggressive. It does make pretty bouquets as a cut flower.

This species grows in prairies, open woods, and glades. It is present in most of the eastern states, including those along the Mississippi River, as well as Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.