Castilleja grisea
San clemente island paintbrush, San Clemente Island Paintbrush
(c) Pacific Southwest Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3 · Delisted
Castilleja grisea (San clemente island paintbrush) is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by but geographically restricted to San Clemente Island.
San clemente island paintbrush is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Channel Islands on San Clemente Island in coastal bluff habitats at elevations up to 400 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pale yellow-green flowers with dull yellow and dark green margins, forming distinctive bracts 10 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 40 to 60 centimeters tall with openly branched stems covered in ash-gray, densely stellate hairs, it develops short leafy axillary shoots. Its leaves are 10 to 50 millimeters long, linear to lanceolate, with zero to three slender lobes. The fruit is 10 to 12 millimeters long with intricately netted seeds featuring ladder-like wall structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species but geographically restricted to San Clemente Island
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs
Elevation: 400 m
California counties: Los Angeles
Bloom period
Castilleja grisea blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3 · Delisted
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 grisea native to California?
Yes. Castilleja grisea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja grisea bloom?
Castilleja grisea blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Castilleja grisea grow?
Castilleja grisea occurs in Los Angeles, at elevations of 400 m.
What plant family does Castilleja grisea belong to?
Castilleja grisea is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja grisea rare or endangered?
Castilleja grisea carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.