Castilleja brevilobata
Short-lobed paintbrush
(c) Rob Santry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Castilleja brevilobata (Short-lobed paintbrush) is a native California perennial in the Orobanchaceae family.
Short-lobed paintbrush is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in the northwestern Klamath Ranges in dry, open serpentine and forest edges at elevations of 200 to 1,850 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright red to yellow flowers with yellow-green corollas and dark green lower lips, arranged in open inflorescences up to 20 centimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with green or yellowish stems that are glandular-puberulent, it has an upright, delicate form. Its leaves range 15 to 60 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate, with 0 to 7 shallow lobes and rounded to acute tips. The fruit is 8 to 13 millimeters long, containing tiny seeds with a loosely netted coat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated to nw KR region
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open serpentine, forest edges
Elevation: 200-1850 m
California counties: Del Norte, Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Castilleja brevilobata blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 brevilobata native to California?
Yes. Castilleja brevilobata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja brevilobata bloom?
Castilleja brevilobata blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja brevilobata grow?
Castilleja brevilobata occurs in Del Norte, Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou, at elevations of 200-1850 m.
What plant family does Castilleja brevilobata belong to?
Castilleja brevilobata is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja brevilobata rare or endangered?
Castilleja brevilobata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.