Castilleja parviflora
Orobanchaceae
Small-Flowered Paintbrush
Stems upright, short, hairy, turning black as they die. Leaves oval to lance-shaped, divided into 3–5 lobes, hairy. Flowers green to yellowish green, with purple edges hidden among bright magenta-red to rose, pink, or whitish 3- to 5-lobed bracts. Grows in alpine meadows, often with heathers, at mid to high elevations. Var. oreopola, found on Mount Rainier, has rose-purple bracts, flowers about 3/4 in. long. Very similar var. olympica has flowers less than 3/4 in. and is endemic to upper Olympic Mountains.
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Flowering Time: Mid Summer
- Flower Form: 5 petals, 2 lips (Scrophulariaceae)
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Height: 6–15 inches
- Habitat: Alpine, Subalpine
- Found In: Mt. Rainier NP, Olympic NP
- Native: Yes
- Also Known As: Magenta Paintbrush
