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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Castilleja sessiliflora (Downy painted cup)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh

Downy painted cup, Downy paintbrush, Great Plains paintbrush, Great Plains indian-paintbrush

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Symbol: CASE5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A soft, leafy perennial, 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.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , IA , IL , KS , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WI , WY
Canada: 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
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light 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: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2011-02-07
Research By: TWC Staff

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