Paintbrush species in scarlet, orange or magenta make a vivid contribution to the color combinations seen in the wildflower meadows of the Olympics. Surprisingly, the brightly colored parts of paintbrush are not flowers but are modified leaves (bracts) that enclose inconspicuous flowers.

Paintbrush plants have an interesting relationship with nearby plants. Paintbrush roots invade the roots of nearby plants and take in sugars and other molecules made by these plants. The sugars taken from other plants supplement the sugar molecules made by the process of photosynthesis in the paintbrush’s own green leaves. Plants that both parasitize other plants and make their own sugars are called hemiparasitic. Naked Broomrape (see Wildflowers in the menu) is in the same family as Paintbrush, but is fully parasitic. It has no green parts, and makes no sugars of its own.

According to Charles Stewart in Wildflowers of the Olympics and Cascades, “Three species are commonly found in the Olympics: Scarlet Paintbrush, Harsh Paintbrush and a variety of Magenta Paintbrush.” In the Olympics, if you see a magenta-colored paintbrush it is likely to be Castilleja parviflora olympica this is a variety (subspecies) of Magenta Paintbrush. Both Scarlet Paintbrush, Castilleja miniata, and Harsh Paintbrush, Castilleja hispida, can be red to orange, therefore color isn’t a distinguishing characteristic. According to guidebooks, it takes some close observation with magnification to tell them apart.

For those interested in learning more about root hemiparasitism by Castilleja we recommend this essay by John Palka: Mountain Meadow Tales – From Roots to Flowers – Nature’s Depths. For those interested in learning more about the color of paintbrush and attracting pollinators we recommend another of Dr. Palka’s essays: Mountain Meadow Tales – Vibrant Flowers – Nature’s Depths.