About Castilleja miniata Douglas
Castilleja miniata Douglas, commonly known as giant red paintbrush, is a perennial herb. It grows 12 to 80 centimeters tall, and occasionally reaches up to 1 meter, with few to many branching stems. It may grow from a taproot, or from rhizomes that produce branching roots. Its lance-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 centimeters long, have pointed tips, and are covered in thin hairs. Its inflorescence consists of bracts that range in color from bright red to pale orange, or have orange tips. Tubular yellow-green flowers with red edges emerge between these bracts. Flowering occurs from May to September. Most species in the Castilleja genus are parasitic on other plants, forming complex root networks with other species. Because of this parasitic nature, giant red paintbrush usually cannot be successfully transplanted. It frequently uses willow as a host plant. Its native habitats are wet mountain meadows and stream banks located below 11,000 feet (3,400 m).
