Some species are perennial and will return year after year, while some are annual and live only one growing season. Indian paintbrush can be as low-growing as a few inches, or as tall as three feet depending on location and species. Blooming from April to September allows for plenty of time to spot these show-offs growing in fields, mountain meadows, stream banks, open woods, and along low coasts. They are easily identified by their bright, showy bracts (which make up the flower) growing out of a terminal head or spike. These native wildflowers can be found all throughout western North America, from Alaska all the way down to South America. A North American Native Not Commonly Found in the Landscape In the morning he discovered his used paintbrushes had taken root and sprouted the flowers we now call Indian paintbrush. With these, he painted a masterpiece and discarded the spent brushes in a field. The Great Spirit, during a dream, directed the young brave to where he could find paintbrushes capable of reproducing the colors he so desired. Frustrated and unsatisfied with his first attempt, he asked for help and guidance from the Great Spirit. Eventually, the young brave decided he wanted to capture the beauty of the sunset in a painting. He was a very talented painter, and his paintings drew the admiration of everyone who saw them. The legend tells of a young brave who painted great pictures of his hunts and the world around him. A legend from the Plains tribe is said to explain the origins of Indian paintbrush. Like its name implies, the Native Americans were the first people to find this wildflower so intriguing. Indian paintbrush ( Castilleja sp.) has been capturing our imaginations for centuries.
If wildflowers were…okay you probably get the picture.
#YELLOW PAINTBRUSH PLANT OF OREGON FULL#
If wildflowers were birds, it would be a proud peacock in a field full of pigeons. If wildflowers were cars, Indian paintbrush would be the bright red Ferrari cruising down a street full of Toyotas.
With its vibrant red and orange flowers jutting up from the surrounding vegetation, Indian paintbrush puts on a showy display unmatched by most wildflowers. Yet there is one particular wildflower that demands my full attention every time I stumble upon it. Most of the time they are briefly admired as I walk past, or sometimes one will catch my eye and I’ll give it a second look. They are all very beautiful in their own way, growing and blooming in various colors such as yellow, white, pink, red, and blue. During these hikes many wildflowers catch my attention. It’s here that I feel most alive, and the place that I can recharge my batteries.
For me summertime is when I like to retreat into the mountains. With the final weeks of winter slowly melting away, our thoughts begin to turn to our gardens, landscapes, and the great outdoors. There’s nothing quite like the month of March to get folks daydreaming about summer.
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