Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii
Photo: parent species Castilleja applegatei · (c) Rob Santry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by glandular hairs and wavy leaves distinctive.
Martin's paintbrush is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, eastern Sierra Nevada, and desert mountains in dry chaparral, open yellow-pine forest, and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 300 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces flowers with yellow and reddish bracts in slender clusters with a distinctive long beak. Growing with erect stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops a robust and upright habit with multiple branching potential. Its leaves are typically simple with minimal lobing, creating a clean and structured appearance along the stem. The flowers feature a calyx 15 to 25 millimeters long with delicate ovate lobes, complemented by a corolla 25 to 40 millimeters in length with an elongated 12 to 18 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species, glandular hairs and wavy leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry chaparral, open yellow-pine forest, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 300-2800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, Lake, San Benito, Stanislaus, Tulare, Yolo, Monterey, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Napa, Mono, San Diego, Tehama, Ventura, Orange, Santa Barbara, Colusa, Mendocino, Placer, Shasta, Humboldt, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Solano, Plumas, Alameda, Trinity, Siskiyou
Outside California: southern Nevada, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Triphysaria: Castilleja lacks the sharp fold in flower throat; Triphysaria has abrupt crease above lower lip.; vs Trifolium: Castilleja has tubular flowers with colorful bracts; Trifolium has round heads of pea-like flowers and three leaflets.; vs Pedicularis: Castilleja has open forward beak and colorful bracts; Pedicularis has closed hood and fern-like leaves.; vs Orthocarpus: Castilleja has open beak you can see into; Orthocarpus has closed hood covering stamens completely.; vs Epilobium: Castilleja has tubular two-lipped flowers and colorful bracts; Epilobium has four separate petals arranged in cross.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii native to California?
Yes. Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii bloom?
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii grow?
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, Lake, San Benito, Stanislaus and other counties, at elevations of 300-2800 m.
What plant family does Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii belong to?
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii grow in?
Castilleja applegatei subsp. martinii grows in Dry chaparral, open yellow-pine forest, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.