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Native Plant Database

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Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea (Purple paintbrush)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea (Nutt.) G. Don

Purple paintbrush, Purple prairie painbrush, Prairie paintbrush, Downy Indian paintbrush

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Symbol: CAPUP5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea, Purple Paintbrush, has the widest range of natural colors of any of the three varieties of its species, C. purpurea, usually some shade of purple, but occasionally also shades of red, orange, yellow, or white. Favoring grasslands with rocky limestone soils, it ranges from southwest Missouri southwest to central Texas. Like many paintbrushes, it is semi-parasitic on prairie grasses and is thus ideal for meadow and prairie plantings. It is a perennial.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Linear
Leaf Pubescence: Villose
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Spike
Size Notes: Usually 6-9 inches but can be twice that
Leaf: Green to grey-green
Flower: Spikes to 6 inches. Individual flowers within bracts 25-40 mm.
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: KS , MO , OK , TX
Native Distribution: Southwest Missouri through eastern Oklahoma to central Texas
Native Habitat: Rocky, limestone grasslands
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rocky limestone outcrops preferred
Conditions Comments: Semi-parasitic on grass roots so prairies, meadows necessary.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Vivid spring flowers for limestone prairies, meadows, and perennial gardens within its range
Use Wildlife: Flowers attract insect pollinators and hummingbirds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: If plant appears to be in decline, plant a prairie grass near it, as its semi-parasitic on grass roots.

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-MM-754 Collected 2010-07-14 in Hamilton County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-12-05
Research By: TWC Staff, GDG

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