Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Castilleja chromosa
Other common names
desert paintbrush
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6 to 16 inches
Riparian
No
An herbaceous perennial native to the desert scrub and woodlands with showy red bracts. Plants are often partially root parasitic.
Perennial plants with some or most leaves lobed; deeply incised bracts; bracts completely or partially deep red.
Habitat
Desert scrub, interior chaparral, oak/pinion pine/juniper woodlands, montane forest; among pines or sagebrush scrub.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Spike cluster, 2 to 6 inches long of inconspicuous tubular green flowers, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, interspersed among
fuzzy leafy bracts with 3 to 5 lobes; bracts are mostly bright red and are often mistaken for flower petals.
Flower color
Green with red bracts
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are 1 to 3 inches long, hairy, divided into up to 5 pairs of narrow spreading finger-like lobes. Upper leaves may be narrow and not divided.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green to purplish
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No