There is one species as far west as the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia. These annual and perennial herbaceous plants are spread beyond San Bernardino County and are native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes, and northern Asia. Generally within the genus of Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or prairie-fire, there are about 200 species. The inflorescence is a loose, narrow array of green bracts and larger flowers, each with rounded, pouched bright yellow petals and a hairy whitish beak. Its stem and foliage are coated in woolly glandular hairs.

This wildflower is an annual herb usually not exceeding nine inches in height. It is threatened by development, mining, non-native plants, water diversions, grazing, fire suppression, vehicles, and recreational activities.

Its presence has been noted at Moonridge, Big Bear Lake, Forest Falls, Keller Peak, Strawberry Canyon, Bluff Lake Meadow, Harrison Mountain, San Bernardino North, Fawnskin, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead, Butler Peak and Silverwood Lake.Ĭastilleja lasiorhyncha’s only currently existing populations are in San Bernardino County and possibly San Diego County, with historical occurrences also known from Riverside County. Most of the plant’s range is in the San Bernardino Mountains, where it grows in forests and meadows. It is sometimes referred to as San Bernardino Mountains owl’s-clover. The San Bernardino Mountains Indian paintbrush, or Castilleja lasiorhyncha, is a species of Indian paintbrush endemic to southern California.

Indian paintbrush plant range