Castilleja arachnoidea
Cobwebby indian paintbrush
(c) Hilary Rose Dawson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Castilleja arachnoidea (Cobwebby indian paintbrush) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by but unique white-woolly appearance.
Cobwebby indian paintbrush is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in open summits and dry rocky areas at elevations of 1,300 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces dull yellow to rusty red flowers with pale yellow teeth and pale green or purple-red pouches nestled within white-woolly bracts. Growing 8 to 30 centimeters tall with a white-woolly appearance, it has an intricate, delicate stem structure that blends into its rocky alpine environment. Its lance-linear leaves range from 20 to 60 millimeters long, with zero to five subtle lobes that contribute to its fine, intricate texture. The distinctive white-woolly bracts and subtle color variations make this indian paintbrush a subtle yet striking alpine species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 38 sympatric species, but unique white-woolly appearance is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open summits, dry rocks
Elevation: 1300-3300 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Modoc, Trinity, Lassen, Shasta, Plumas, Tuolumne, Inyo, Sierra, Nevada, Glenn, Butte, Humboldt, Tehama, Del Norte, Mendocino
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Castilleja arachnoidea blooms Jun-Aug.
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 arachnoidea native to California?
Yes. Castilleja arachnoidea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja arachnoidea bloom?
Castilleja arachnoidea blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja arachnoidea grow?
Castilleja arachnoidea occurs in Siskiyou, Modoc, Trinity, Lassen, Shasta, Plumas, Tuolumne, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 1300-3300 m.
What plant family does Castilleja arachnoidea belong to?
Castilleja arachnoidea is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja arachnoidea grow in?
Castilleja arachnoidea grows in Open summits, dry rocks.
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.