Castilleja hololeuca
Island paintbrush, Island Paintbrush
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Castilleja hololeuca (Island paintbrush) is a native California perennial in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by white-felty hairs and Channel Islands location.
Island paintbrush is a native perennial herb found in the northern Channel Islands in coastal scrub habitats at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces orange-red to yellow flowers with bracts 15 to 20 millimeters long, deeply divided into three lobes. Growing 30 to 100 centimeters tall with much-branched stems covered in dense white-felty, intertwined hairs, it has a distinctive woolly appearance. Its narrow leaves are 10 to 50 millimeters long, linear in shape with obtuse tips, arranged along short axillary shoots. The fruit is approximately 10 millimeters long, with seeds featuring a deeply netted coat with ladder-like walls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; distinguished by white-felty hairs and Channel Islands location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Amador
Bloom period
Castilleja hololeuca blooms Mar-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 hololeuca native to California?
Yes. Castilleja hololeuca is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja hololeuca bloom?
Castilleja hololeuca blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja hololeuca grow?
Castilleja hololeuca occurs in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Amador, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Castilleja hololeuca belong to?
Castilleja hololeuca is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja hololeuca rare or endangered?
Castilleja hololeuca carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, 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 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.