Castilleja rubicundula subsp. rubicundula

Pink creamsacs, Pink Creamsacs

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Pink creamsacs is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual herb found in southern North Coast Ranges Interior, Sacramento Valley, and southern San Francisco Bay Area in open grassland at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers that gradually turn pink, creating a delicate color transition. Growing with slender stems to approximately 30 centimeters tall, it emerges as a delicate grassland wildflower. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, typical of the paintbrush genus, blending subtly with surrounding grasses. The fruit develops as a small capsule, continuing the plant's understated botanical elegance.

Habitat: Open grassland

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: < 900 m

Bioregions: s NCoRI, ScV, s SnFrB.

California counties: Colusa, Lake, Butte, Napa, Glenn, Santa Clara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.