Bloomipedia
Rhexia-leaved paintbrush (Castilleja rhexiifolia)
Photo: Dawn Nelson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Rhexia-leaved paintbrush

Castilleja rhexiifolia

Rhexia-leaved paintbrush (Castilleja rhexiifolia) is a low shrub in the Orobanchaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Rhexia-leaved paintbrush is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–August.

9states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
3,427U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Utah

Quick look

Castilleja rhexiifolia, commonly called rosy paintbrush, subalpine paintbrush, or rhexia-leaved paintbrush, is a species of plant in Orobanchaceae, commonly known as the broomrape family. They are a common flower found in moist habitats near or above timberline in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. Like most members of the Castilleja genus, they are partially parasitic plants.

  • It belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado and Utah. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,985 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #83 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 809 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #76 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (413 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJuly–August1,985
UtahNativeJuly–August809

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records rhexia-leaved paintbrush in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Boulder, Clear Creek, Conejos, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit.

Utah counties with USDA records: Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Juab, Morgan, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Weber.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Castilleja lauta, Castilleja leonardii, Castilleja oregonensis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 97 counties across 9 states; the most are in Colorado (27), Utah (20), Idaho (13).

Other Castilleja on Bloomipedia (11): Texas paintbrush, Purple owl's-clover, Felt paintbrush, Giant red paintbrush, Desert paintbrush, Wholeleaf paintbrush, Wyoming paintbrush, Painted-cup paintbrush, Downy painted-cup, Northern paintbrush.

More from the Orobanchaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Canadian lousewort, Warrior's plume, Elephant's-Head lousewort, Narrowleaf cow wheat, Sickletop lousewort, Florida bluehearts, Bracted lousewort, Dwarf lousewort.

More Colorado flowers

Elephant's-Head lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica)

Elephant's-Head lousewort

Pedicularis groenlandica

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August
Wholeleaf paintbrush (Castilleja integra)

Wholeleaf paintbrush

Castilleja integra

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July
Sickletop lousewort (Pedicularis racemosa)

Sickletop lousewort

Pedicularis racemosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–August

Sources