Paintbrushes are annual or perennial forbs in the Castilleja and Triphysaria genera of the broomrape family. Many of them are native to the Yuba-Sutter area. They are called paintbrushes because the Nisenan people traditionally used the bright red flowers to make red dye. Paintbrushes with flower colors other than red are sometimes called owl's clover, although they are not related to clovers.
Paintbrushes of all colors are typically hemiparasitic, meaning that they get some of their energy from the sun through photosynthesis but also some of their energy from parasitizing other plants—usually grasses. Native grasses that evolved with Indian paintbrushes are very unlikely to be significantly harmed by this parasitism, but paintbrushes may be somewhat useful in controlling the spread of weedy alien grasses.
Perennials
Franciscan Paintbrush
Franciscan paintbrush is a three-foot-tall red paintbrush that is native to Sutter County and typically grows at elevations below 7,000 feet. It is most often found on slopes in central oak woodland.
You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Wavyleaf Paintbrush
Applegate's paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei) on Table Mountain. Photo by queerbychoice. Wavyleaf paintbrush is an eighteen-inch-tall red paintbrush that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations below 11,000 feet. It is most often found on slopes in yellow pine forest. It prefers full sun.
You can read more about it at USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Coast Paintbrush
Coast paintbrush (Castilleja affinis). Photo by queerbychoice. Coast paintbrush is a red paintbrush that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 4,000 feet.
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Frosted Paintbrush
Frosted paintbrush is a red paintbrush that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations below 8,000 feet. It is found in yellow pine forest. It tolerates serpentine.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Annuals
Narrowleaf Owl's Clover
Narrowleaf owl's clover is a white paintbrush that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 7,000 feet. It is found in central oak woodland, valley grassland, or yellow pine forest. Botanist Willis Linn Jepson collected narrowleaf owl's clover on the Sutter Buttes in 1891.1
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Sagebrush Paintbrush
Sagebrush paintbrush (also called thinlobe owl's clover) is a white paintbrush that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations below 7,000 feet. It is found in central oak woodland, valley grassland, or yellow pine forest.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Purple Owl's Clover
Purple owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) in Bear Valley. Photo by queerbychoice. Purple owl's clover is a purple paintbrush that is native to Sutter County and typically grows at elevations below 5,000 feet. It is found in central oak woodland or valley grassland. Botanist Willis Linn Jepson collected purple owl's clover on the Sutter Buttes in 1891.2
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Butter 'n' Eggs
Butter 'n' eggs (Triphysaria eriantha) on Table Mountain. Photo by queerbychoice. Butter 'n' eggs (also called johnnytuck) is a yellow paintbrush that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 4,500 feet. It is found in central oak woodland or valley grassland. Botanist Amos Arthur Heller collected butter 'n' eggs in Marysville in 1905.3
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Hairy Paintbrush
Hairy paintbrush (also called hairy owl's clover) is a yellow paintbrush that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. It is most often found in meadows in yellow pine forest or riparian forest. It is equally likely to grow in wetlands or non-wetlands.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Dwarf Owl's Clover
Dwarf owl's clover is a purple paintbrush that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations below 2,000 feet. It is found in central oak woodland.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Cream Sacs
Cream sacs is a white paintbrush that is native to Sutter County and typically grows at elevations below 3,000 feet.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Vernal Pool Paintbrush
Vernal pool paintbrush (also called yellow owl's clover) is a yellow paintbrush that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 7,500 feet. It is found in vernal pools. Botanist Amos Arthur Heller collected vernal pool paintbrush on the Sutter Buttes in 1891.4
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa.
Footnotes
1. Consortium of California Herbaria
2. Consortium of California Herbaria
3. Consortium of California Herbaria
4. Consortium of California Herbaria
