Castilleja linariifolia
Desert paintbursh
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Castilleja linariifolia (Desert paintbursh) is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by upward-folded leaf margins and desert habitats.
Desert paintbrush is a California native perennial found in the northeastern California Mountains, eastern Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions in dry plains, rocky slopes, and sagebrush scrub or pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces bright red to yellow flowers with yellow-green corollas and red margins, nestled among narrow bracts up to 30 millimeters long. Growing 30 to 100 centimeters tall with few branches, the plant transitions from yellow-green to purplish stems that are glabrous or slightly hairy. Its linear leaves have narrow margins folded upward, ranging 20 to 80 millimeters in length with occasional small lobes. The distinctive flowers feature a calyx 20 to 35 millimeters long, with curved upward lobes and a lower lip just 2 to 3 millimeters dark green.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; distinguished by upward-folded leaf margins and desert habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry plains, rocky slopes, sagebrush scrub or pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1000-3350 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Ventura, Kern, Inyo, Tuolumne, Mono, Lassen, Modoc, Siskiyou, Alpine, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Alameda, Butte, Nevada, El Dorado
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, New Mexico
Bloom period
Castilleja linariifolia blooms Jun-Sep.
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 linariifolia native to California?
Yes. Castilleja linariifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja linariifolia bloom?
Castilleja linariifolia blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Castilleja linariifolia grow?
Castilleja linariifolia occurs in San Bernardino, Ventura, Kern, Inyo, Tuolumne, Mono, Lassen, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3350 m.
What plant family does Castilleja linariifolia belong to?
Castilleja linariifolia is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja linariifolia grow in?
Castilleja linariifolia grows in Dry plains, rocky slopes, sagebrush scrub or pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.