Texas Paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa
Also known as Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush
Climate Match for your location
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A wildflower native to Texas featuring bright red-orange bracts that resemble brushstrokes, blooming in spring. It thrives in full sun with minimal water once established and is excellent for native plantings and pollinator gardens.
Why grow it
Texas Paintbrush offers a native alternative to ornamental red flowers for sunny, well-drained sites across south-central regions, particularly where water conservation is a priority. Unlike many cultivated annuals, it establishes from seed with minimal amendment and requires no supplemental irrigation once rooted, making it a low-input choice for naturalized plantings. Its early spring bloom window and hemiparasitic growth habit (drawing some nutrients from nearby plant roots) can support diverse understory communities in native gardens.
Watch out for
This hemiparasitic species performs best when other plants are present to serve as hosts, so it may underperform in isolated plantings or very prepared soil. Seed propagation requires cold stratification and can be slow to germinate, so direct sowing in fall is more reliable than spring sowing. It does not transplant reliably once established, so sowing directly in intended locations yields better results.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Texas native
Native to: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A wildflower native to Texas featuring bright red-orange bracts that resemble brushstrokes, blooming in spring. It thrives in full sun with minimal water once established and is excellent for native plantings and pollinator gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Texas Paintbrush grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Texas Paintbrush offers a native alternative to ornamental red flowers for sunny, well-drained sites across south-central regions, particularly where water conservation is a priority. Unlike many cultivated annuals, it establishes from seed with minimal amendment and requires no supplemental irrigation once rooted, making it a low-input choice for naturalized plantings. Its early spring bloom window and hemiparasitic growth habit (drawing some nutrients from nearby plant roots) can support diverse understory communities in native gardens.
Watch out for
This hemiparasitic species performs best when other plants are present to serve as hosts, so it may underperform in isolated plantings or very prepared soil. Seed propagation requires cold stratification and can be slow to germinate, so direct sowing in fall is more reliable than spring sowing. It does not transplant reliably once established, so sowing directly in intended locations yields better results.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Texas native
Native to: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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