Species › Plants › Golden Paintbrush

Golden Paintbrush

Castilleja levisecta

RarePlant
Illustration of Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta)

Golden Paintbrush is a striking plant with bright yellow bracts that resemble a paintbrush. It is a hemiparasite, often relying on grasses for additional nutrients.

Habitat
Grows in prairies and open meadows, often in coastal areas.
Diet
Attracts pollinators like bees, while parasitizing nearby grass species.
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Golden Paintbrush

The best time to see a Golden Paintbrush is May, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,311 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Golden Paintbrush? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Golden Paintbrush sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Golden Paintbrush?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More plants

Golden Saxifrage
Golden Saxifrage
Chrysosplenium americanum
Golden Sedge
Golden Sedge
Carex aurea
Goldenball Lead Tree
Goldenball Lead Tree
Leucaena retusa
Goldenseal
Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
Goldie's Wood Fern
Goldie's Wood Fern
Dryopteris goldiana
Goldthread
Goldthread
Coptis trifolia
Gooseberry-leaved Globemallow
Gooseberry-leaved Globemallow
Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia
Grand Fir
Grand Fir
Abies grandis