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scarlet Indian paintbrush
Scientific Name: Castilleja coccinea
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names: CT (Indian paintbrush), KY (scarlet Indian paintbr
Scarlet Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea)
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is hairy, which may be a concern for pets that tend to chew on foliage.
Considerations for Children
- The plant features spiky blooms, which could pose a minor hazard.
Common Names
- Scarlet Indian Paintbrush
- Scarlet Painted-cup
- Indian Paintbrush
- Painted Cup
- Red Indian Paintbrush
- Meadow Paintbrush
- Great Red Indian Paintbrush
- Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush
- Texas Paintbrush
- Scarlet Paintbrush
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.
- Genus: Castilleja
- Family: Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape Family), previously in Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon Family)
- Synonym: Bartsia coccinea
Distribution and Habitat
- Found in New England, with 60 element occurrence records.
- Grows on alvars and moist areas.
- Observed in locations like Crex Meadows and Macon County, North Carolina.
- Also grows throughout Glacier National Park's mountains.
- Found in Orange County, NC.
- Historically associated with native prairielands used by the Osage, Kansa, and Pawnee people.
Ecological Role
- Hemiparasitic: Grows in association with other plant roots.
- Host plant: Serves as a host plant for several species of butterflies in the Checkerspot family.
Morphological Characteristics
- Upright, hairy plant that grows to be 1 to 7 decimeters (3.9 to 27.6 inches) tall.
- Flowers are hidden in the axils of scarlet-tipped, fan-shaped bracts.
- Bracts vary in color from orange to scarlet to purple to even white or yellow.
- Clusters of green to yellow flowers measuring 1 to 2 inches across.
- Scarlet bracts subtend the fruit.
- Foliage Height: 10-12”.
- Foliage Width: 10-12”.
Quirky Facts
- The bright red bracts are often mistaken for the flower. The true flowers are inconspicuous and hidden by the bracts.
- Castilleja coccinea was first described as a new species in 1737 by Linnaeus, who initially placed it in the genus Bartsia.
Conservation Status
- Designated Endangered in New York and ranked S1 (highest rarity) by the New York Natural Heritage.
Further Information
- Dave's Garden is mentioned as a resource for gardening tips and ideas.