Castilleja wightii

Common Names

Wight's Indian Paintbrush, Paintbrush, Indian Paintbrush

Summary

Wight's Indian paintbrush is a native California perennial herb in the Orobanchaceae family that occurs in coastal scrub and coastal strand habitats along the California coast. It is a hemiparasite with densely long-bristly, glandular-sticky hairs and showy bracts that are bright red to yellow (often three-lobed) surrounding tubular flowers, blooming March–August.

Cultivation is difficult due to partial parasitism and host needs; best hosts are beach/dune associates such as Eriophyllum staechadifolium, Eriogonum parvifolium, and Erigeron glaucus, with additional hosts including Artemisia pycnocephala, Ericameria ericoides, and Baccharis pilularis; it grows in open, well-drained rocky soil or sand and can be grown in pots with good drainage. Propagation is by seed, with cold stratification (~14 days), germination about 50%, and transplant survival around 60%. Uses include habitat and pollinator-friendly plantings; it is pollinated by hummingbirds and supports butterflies.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2.5 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; partial shade also acceptable.

Soil Type

Sandy, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Bloom Color

Bright red to yellow

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Red to yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies