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Castilleja coccinea [ kas - tee - LEE - uh ] [ kok - SIN - ee - uh ] , is a blossom annual works found in moist prairies and meadow .

It ’s aboriginal to North America , growing from Maine to Minnesota and Florida to Louisiana .

Flowers of the Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja coccinea is part of the Castilleja ( Native American paintbrush ) genus , which belong to the Orobanchaceae family .

The coccinea species has several common names associate to the showy red calyx protect the flower .

Common names let in :

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Scarlet Amerindic paintbrush is a hemiparasitic plant , provide it to find nutrition from nearby plants .

Castilleja Coccinea Care

Size and Growth

ruby-red paintbrush is an upright flora with unbranching root word arising from a basal rosette .

The stems are hairy , green , and 4″ to 28″ column inch tall .

The basal leaves are elliptic , while the shank leaves are on an irregular basis mould .

It ’s a biennial plant .

During the first year , it produces rose window of leaves .

During the second year , unbranching spikes dash from the center of the rosettes .

Flowering and Fragrance

The industrial plant bloom in the spring , producing a red calyx from which a greenish - yellow bloom emerges .

The flowers attain a little over an inch long and let in anthesis bracts with rich lobes .

After florescence , the seminal fluid set , and the plant dies .

look on the surround , the seeds may produce fresh growth the next bounce .

Light and Temperature

The paintbrush flower grows almost anywhere it can receive full sun .

It ’s suitable for year - round ontogeny in USDA hardiness zona 4 to 8 .

In southerly states , the plant life may need fond shade .

Watering and Feeding

Soil and Transplanting

The paintbrush flower produce best in well - drained soil with medium moisture .

Use standard soil with added constitutional material , such as compost or peat moss .

If the territory does n’t drain within several Clarence Day , remedy the soil with grit or perlite to amend drainage .

Indian paintbrush has a delicate rootage organisation and may not live the transplant mental process .

It ’s best to sow in the germ direct in the last locating for the flora .

Grooming

Grooming is n’t needed for the Indian paintbrush .

The plant reaches its full height during the first twelvemonth , produces flowers during the 2d year , and then dies off .

How to Propagate Indian Paintbrush Flower

Propagate using seeds .

The plant freely reseeds in optimum growing conditions , and it is n’t always enough to demonstrate annual dependency .

In cooler region , wait until the source of summer to sow the seeds , check temperature are at least 55 ° to 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 13 ° – 18 ° C ) .

During the 2nd year , prime should appear in the early spring or former summertime , depending on when the seeds were sown the former year .

The plant will then die again , ask another rhythm of generation .

Planting new seeds each year ensures a continual colony of Native American paintbrushes along with flowers each year instead of every other year .

Indian Paintbrush Flower Pest or Disease Problems

Castilleja coccinea does n’t suffer from any serious insect or disease trouble .

Avoid plant Native American paintbrushes in field where animals , pets , or children may be tempted to eat the plant .

While it ’s not toxic , the Indian paintbrush contain high grade of selenium .

Consuming large portions of the plant may lead to keen atomic number 34 perniciousness .

Symptoms include nausea , emesis , fatigue duty , and foul breath .

Suggested Castilleja Coccinea Uses

The colored flowers of the Indian paintbrush plant look not bad get over a prairie or clear landscape .

They also work well in aboriginal plant gardens .