Castilleja mollis
Soft-leaved paintbrush
(c) naturalist charlie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Castilleja mollis (Soft-leaved paintbrush) is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit and fleshy rounded leaves.
Soft-leaved paintbrush is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the northern Channel Islands, specifically on Santa Rosa and eastern San Miguel islands, in coastal dune habitats at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow-green flowers with pale margins, nestled among fleshy yellow-green bracts 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with white-woolly, prostrate stems 30 to 40 centimeters tall that are openly branched, it develops distinctive leafy axillary shoots. Its leaves are 10 to 30 millimeters long, oblong to obovate with rounded tips, growing entire along the plant's delicate structure. The fruit is approximately 16 millimeters long, with seeds featuring a deeply netted coat and ladder-like cell walls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; distinguished by prostrate habit and fleshy rounded leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes
Elevation: < 20 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Castilleja mollis blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 mollis native to California?
Yes. Castilleja mollis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja mollis bloom?
Castilleja mollis blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja mollis grow?
Castilleja mollis occurs in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 20 m.
What plant family does Castilleja mollis belong to?
Castilleja mollis is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja mollis rare or endangered?
Castilleja mollis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.