Close-up of Giant Red Paintbrush flower (Castilleja miniata). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Giant Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) intermixed in a garden bed with native yarrow. Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Giant Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) in a wild landscape. Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Giant Red Paintbrush

Castilleja miniata

Red bracts attract hummingbirds. Paintbrush roots are parasitic! Its root system plugs itself into the roots of various hosts, extracting nutrients that supplement its growth - without entirely depleting the nutrients from the host plant. Known hosts include, but are not limited to, Roemer’s fescue, yarrow, Oregon sunshine, thimbleberry, and even some non-native weeds such as oxeye daisy. With this complicated host dependency, this plant can be challenging to establish. Consider buying in multiples to ensure success, planting in the same hole as a host and/or cutting back an establish host already in your garden and planting the paintbrush directly into the host crown.
    • Size at maturity: 8"-32"
    • Canopy layer: groundcover
    • Light requirements: full sun to part shade
    • Moisture requirements: moist to dry soil
    • Bloom time: May-September

    Photo Credit 1: "meadow paintbrush, Castilleja miniata subsp. miniata" by Jim Morefield is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

    Photo Credit 2: "Castilleja miniata" by mmmavocado is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    Photo Credit 3: "meadow paintbrush, Castilleja miniata subsp. miniata" by Jim Morefield is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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