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Indian paintbrush
Indian paintbrush botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Indian paintbrush

Castilleja coccinea
In the United States: Native · also called scarlet indian paintbrush, indian paintbrush

Honeybees occasionally visit Indian paintbrush for nectar and pollen, but the tubular flowers make it more suitable for long-tongued pollinators like bumblebees and hummingbirds. Peak bloom hits in late spring to early summer, providing early-season forage. As a hemiparasitic biennial, it requires host plants nearby for nutrient uptake and does not persist beyond two years.

Nectarlow
Pollenlow
Bloom (US) April–July
Hardiness zones3-8
TypePerennial
Sunfull

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