paintbrush

Honeybees occasionally visit the tubular flowers for nectar and some pollen during late spring to early summer, though the plant is more attractive to hummingbirds and native bees. Peak bloom typically hits in May to June, offering a brief minor resource in sunny meadows and open woods. As a hemiparasitic annual or biennial, it attaches to roots of nearby grasses or forbs for nutrients and benefits from well-drained soils; it self-seeds readily but may require host plants for vigorous growth.