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Castilleja sessiliflora
Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh
Downy Painted Cup, Downy Paintbrush, Great Plains Paintbrush, Great Plains Indian-paintbrush
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: case5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
A soft, leafy perennial, usually 6-10 in. tall, often several-stemmed. Large but inconspicuous yellow (sometimes pinkish) flowers and green bracts, tinged with pink or red, form dense spikes. A hairy plant with clustered stems and yellow to pinkish bracts and flowers with corollas protruding like long, pale, curved beaks.
In very dry areas with poor soil, this species forms diminutive tufts; where soil and moisture are better, plants are taller and more open.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 16 inches tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink , Yellow , Green , PurpleBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AZ , CO , IA , IL , KS , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WI , WYCanada: AB , SK
Native Distribution: WI & extreme n. IL to Sask. & MT, s.w. to MO, TX & AZ; also n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry prairies; grassy plains
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: As with other paintbrushes, this plant is semiparasitic on other plants and is almost impossible to transplant to the garden, but can be started easily from seed.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesBibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Castilleja sessiliflora in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Castilleja sessiliflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Castilleja sessiliflora
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-28Research By: TWC Staff