Flower profile
Unalaska paintbrush
Castilleja unalaschcensis
Unalaska paintbrush is a wildflower. In Alaska it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Alaska
Quick look
- It belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. NatureServe
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 956 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #47 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
Unalaska paintbrush gift ideas
Handmade unalaska paintbrush gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Unalaska paintbrush art print
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Unalaska paintbrush greeting card
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Unalaska paintbrush mug
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Unalaska paintbrush earrings
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Unalaska paintbrush embroidery pattern
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Unalaska paintbrush sticker
When does it bloom?
In Alaska, most flowering sightings come in June–August.
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
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Alaska.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
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.
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 unalaska paintbrush in 1 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Chugach, Copper River, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Yakutat.
More Alaska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CAUN4.
- iNaturalist, Castilleja unalaschcensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Castilleja unalaschcensis (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Amber M. King via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.