Castilleja subinclusa
Franciscan paint brush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Castilleja subinclusa (Franciscan paint brush) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Franciscan paint brush is a California native perennial found in coastal and central California regions in coastal bluff and coastal prairie habitats at elevations near sea level to 500 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces bright red to orange-red bracts with yellow-green and rose-pink flowers 30 to 50 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 30 to 120 centimeters tall, becoming increasingly purple and glandular-hairy with short axillary shoots. Its lanceolate leaves range 30 to 80 millimeters long, with 0 to 3 lobes and a grayish-green coloration. The flower's distinctive calyx is 20 to 32 millimeters long, with a curved corolla and a shaggy, densely puberulent beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Ventura, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Calaveras, Butte, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey, Tulare, Kern, Sutter, San Diego, Del Norte, Placer, Los Angeles, Tehama, Tuolumne, Nevada, Marin, Santa Barbara, Amador, San Mateo, Riverside
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 subinclusa native to California?
Yes. Castilleja subinclusa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Castilleja subinclusa grow?
Castilleja subinclusa occurs in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Calaveras, Butte, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey and other counties.
What plant family does Castilleja subinclusa belong to?
Castilleja subinclusa is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
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.