Castilleja pruinosa
Frosted indian paintbrush
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Castilleja pruinosa (Frosted indian paintbrush) is a native California subshrub in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by tall subshrub habit, serpentine habitat, and long beak.
Frosted indian paintbrush is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, northern California Range, central and northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in dry, open serpentine or forest edge habitats at elevations below 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces bright red to orange-red flowers with green lower lips nestled within branched inflorescences 3 to 20 centimeters long. Growing with densely gray pubescent stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall and few-branched with short axillary shoots, it has a robust and distinctive appearance. Its leaves are 20 to 80 millimeters long, lance-shaped with 0 to 5 obtuse lobes, creating a textured and varied foliage structure. The fruit measures 8 to 15 millimeters long, with seeds featuring a deeply netted coat and distinctive ladder-like side walls.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; tall subshrub habit, serpentine habitat, and long beak are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open serpentine or forest edge
Elevation: < 2600 m
California counties: Del Norte, Nevada, Placer, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Butte, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sierra, Alpine, Modoc, Yuba, Tuolumne, Trinity, Plumas, San Benito, Calaveras, Napa, Mariposa
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Castilleja pruinosa blooms Apr-Aug.
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 pruinosa native to California?
Yes. Castilleja pruinosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja pruinosa bloom?
Castilleja pruinosa blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja pruinosa grow?
Castilleja pruinosa occurs in Del Norte, Nevada, Placer, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Butte, El Dorado, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of < 2600 m.
What plant family does Castilleja pruinosa belong to?
Castilleja pruinosa is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja pruinosa grow in?
Castilleja pruinosa grows in Dry, open serpentine or forest edge.
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.