Castilleja puberula
A subalpine hemiparasitic perennial in the broomrape family native to Colorado and Montana, 8–15 cm tall with yellow-green foliage, blooming in summer at 2700–3900 m, with flowers that can be green, yellow, or red and pollinated by Bombus spp.
Common Names
Alpine Paintbrush, Downy Indian-Paintbrush, Shortflower Indian Paintbrush
Summary
An Alpine Paintbrush, a perennial herb in the Orobanchaceae family native to Colorado to Montana in the Northwestern United States, occupies subalpine grasslands at 2700–3900 m. It grows to 8–15 cm tall from a taproot, with stems that are shortly softly hirsute, leaves linear with 0–3 lobes, an inflorescence about 5 cm, linear bracts with 0–5 lobes, and a corolla about 2 cm, producing yellow-green flowers that bloom in summer.
For cultivation, it prefers humus-rich, moist soil with winter-drier conditions, a semi-shady site or alpine house, and propagation by seed in spring (uncovered; germ 1–3 months; 16–21°C) or by cuttings in late summer.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3-6 inches
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade
Soil Type
Humus-rich, moist soil
Soil Drainage
Moist (mesic) soils
Soil pH
No data available
Bloom Color
Yellow-green
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Yellow-green
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow-green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Seasons of Interest
Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Rydb.
- Publication
- Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 31: 644 (1904)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja