Wyoming Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja linariifolia

Native to:
United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Orobanchaceae
Genus:
Castilleja
Species:
Castilleja linariifolia
USDA Symbol:
CALI4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Subshrub
Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
red, orange, yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Anicia checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia), ⚠️Edith's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha), Gillette's checkerspot (Euphydryas gillettii)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
hummingbirds, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from root crown following fire; often increases in abundance in post-fire communities.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
often found in arid, rocky areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Hemiparasitic; requires host plant roots nearby for successful establishment. Light aids germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: None required

Establishment: Time to potting is variable. Seeds are cleaned by shaking from pod. The protocol is based on the Beaver Meadows collection.

Source: npn.rngr.net