Castilleja montigena
Heckard's paintbrush
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Castilleja montigena (Heckard's paintbrush) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by exceptionally long flower beak and eastern San Bernardino Mountains location.
Heckard's paintbrush is a rare California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the eastern San Bernardino Mountains on dry, rocky, open slopes and flats in open forest and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces red to orange flowers in shaggy-haired inflorescences with bracts tipped in vibrant colors. Growing with branching stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it has a gray-green appearance with glandular-puberulent texture throughout. Its leaves are 2 to 5.5 centimeters long, lanceolate to lance-linear, occasionally with wavy margins and narrow-triangular lobes up to 1 centimeter long. The flowers feature a distinctive red calyx and pale green-yellow corolla with a long beak extending twice the length of the flower tube.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinguished by exceptionally long flower beak and eastern San Bernardino Mountains location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky, open slopes and flats in open forest, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1800-2900 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Bloom period
Castilleja montigena blooms May-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 montigena native to California?
Yes. Castilleja montigena is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja montigena bloom?
Castilleja montigena blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja montigena grow?
Castilleja montigena occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 1800-2900 m.
What plant family does Castilleja montigena belong to?
Castilleja montigena is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
Is Castilleja montigena rare or endangered?
Castilleja montigena 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.