Castilleja gleasoni
Mount gleason paintbrush, Mount Gleason Paintbrush
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Castilleja gleasoni (Mount gleason paintbrush) is a native California perennial in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by ash-gray coloration and San Gabriel Mountains location.
Mount gleason paintbrush is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Mount Gleason region in rocky cliffs and open yellow-pine forest at elevations of 1,100 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces red bracts with red and yellow-margined flowers 25 to 30 millimeters long, creating a vibrant display. Growing with ash-gray stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops a densely branched and glandular-puberulent habit with few axillary shoots. Its leaves are linear to lanceolate, 20 to 60 millimeters long, with 0 to 3 lobes and obtuse tips. The fruit is approximately 15 millimeters long, with seeds 1 to 1.5 millimeters featuring a distinctive deeply netted coat with ladder-like walls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; distinguished by ash-gray coloration and San Gabriel Mountains location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs, rocky slopes in open yellow-pine forest
Elevation: 1100-2200 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Bloom period
Castilleja gleasoni blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 gleasoni native to California?
Yes. Castilleja gleasoni is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja gleasoni bloom?
Castilleja gleasoni blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Castilleja gleasoni grow?
Castilleja gleasoni occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of 1100-2200 m.
What plant family does Castilleja gleasoni belong to?
Castilleja gleasoni is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja gleasoni rare or endangered?
Castilleja gleasoni carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
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 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.