Castilleja wightii
Wight' indian paint brush
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Castilleja wightii (Wight' indian paint brush) is a native California perennial in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by many axillary shoots, bristly-glandular hairs, and long beak.
Wight's indian paintbrush is a California native perennial found in coastal scrub regions of northern California Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and central California Coast at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces bright red to yellow flowers in bracts 10 to 25 millimeters long with three distinctive lobes. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with much-branched stems that are yellow-green and tinged with purple, the plant has a densely bristly and glandular-sticky appearance. Its leaves are 20 to 60 millimeters long, generally crowded and lanceolate to nearly ovate, with zero to three lobes. The fruit is 10 to 15 millimeters long with seeds featuring a deeply netted coat that resembles a ladder-like pattern.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; many axillary shoots, bristly-glandular hairs, and long beak are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: San Mateo, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Del Norte, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura
Bloom period
Castilleja wightii blooms Mar-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 wightii native to California?
Yes. Castilleja wightii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja wightii bloom?
Castilleja wightii blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Castilleja wightii grow?
Castilleja wightii occurs in San Mateo, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Castilleja wightii belong to?
Castilleja wightii is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja wightii grow in?
Castilleja wightii grows in Coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Castilleja affinis — Indian paintbrush
- Castilleja affinis subsp. affinis
- Castilleja affinis subsp. litoralis — Oregon coast paintbrush
- Castilleja affinis subsp. neglecta — Tiburon paintbrush
- Castilleja ambigua — Johnny-nip
- Castilleja ambigua subsp. ambigua — johnny-nip
- Chloropyron maritimum — Salt marsh bird's beak
- Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens
- Chloropyron maritimum subsp. maritimum — Salt marsh bird's-beak
- Chloropyron maritimum subsp. palustre — Point reyes salty bird's-beak
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.