10 Seeds Castilleja coccinea Indian Paintbrush Wildflower

Castilleja coccinea, commonly known as Indian Paintbrush, is a charming wildflower native to North America, prized for its vivid scarlet-orange bracts that resemble dipped paintbrushes. This hemiparasitic plant naturally attaches to neighboring grasses and forbs, making it a distinctive and colorful addition to meadows, pollinator gardens, and naturalized landscapes.
Its brilliant bracts appear from late spring through midsummer, creating striking contrast in wildflower plantings and prairie restorations. Indian Paintbrush performs best when sown alongside host grasses such as little bluestem or blue grama, as it draws partial nutrients through root connections. It is well suited to informal borders, meadow mixes, and native plant displays where its vivid color and unusual growth habit can be appreciated.
Species: Castilleja coccinea
Variety: Indian Paintbrush
Type: Herbaceous biennial wildflower
Plant_Habit: Upright, clump-forming
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, sandy to loamy
Days_to_Harvest: Not applicable
Zones: 4-8
Germination: 14-30 days with cold stratification
Sowing: Surface sow, do not cover fully; requires light
Spacing: 12-18 inches
Notes: Hemiparasitic; grows best near host grasses