# giant red paintbrush (*Castilleja miniata*) The giant red paintbrush is a bright and colorful flower that looks like it was dipped in paint! It grows in beautiful clusters and is often found in meadows and along mountain trails. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Castilleja pallida, Pale Paintbrush ![giant red paintbrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Castillejaminiata.jpg&width=800) Photo: D Arceneaux, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castillejaminiata.jpg) ## Appearance The giant red paintbrush has vibrant, fuzzy-looking flower spikes that are actually bright scarlet-red leaf-like structures called bracts. These brilliant, brush-like tops emerge from a base of slender green leaves, making it instantly recognizable and visually distinct in any meadow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Orobanchaceae - **Genus:** Castilleja ## Interesting facts - Hummingbirds are crazy about this plant's nectar, helping it spread its tiny seeds! - Its scientific name honors a Spanish botanist, Domingo Castillejo! - This plant is a 'half-parasite,' meaning it drinks from its neighbors' roots! - What looks like a flower is actually a bunch of bright red leaves called bracts! ## Special abilities - **Nutrient Siphon:** The giant red paintbrush can connect to other plant roots to steal water and nutrients, helping it thrive in tough spots. - **Hummingbird Beacon:** Its fiery red, fuzzy "flowers" (bracts) are super bright, acting like a flashing sign to attract hummingbirds for pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Sips nectar, transferring pollen. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on leaves and stems. - **Depends on:** Idaho Fescue (*Festuca idahoensis*) — Steals water and nutrients from roots. - **Pollinates:** [Red-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus appositus*) — Collects pollen from the bracts. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch or pick flowers without permission, as they are important for nature! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify giant red paintbrush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is giant red paintbrush? 20-60 cm ### How wide does giant red paintbrush spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on giant red paintbrush? 2-4 cm ### When does giant red paintbrush bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is giant red paintbrush edible? No ### Is giant red paintbrush toxic? Mild ### What is giant red paintbrush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [E.C. Manning Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-c-manning-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/purcell-wilderness-conservancy-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Garibaldi Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garibaldi-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see giant red paintbrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/giant-red-paintbrush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Giant Red Paintbrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-red-paintbrush)