When we are out walking and hiking in the hills around the Thomspon River Valleys, we frequently spot Thompson’s paintbrush on open hillsides, grassland slopes, among the sagebrush, and extending up to mid-elevations. The pale yellow-green leaves and bracts blend into the grasses, sagebrush, and rabbit brush

• Castilleja thompsonii is a herbaceous perennial in the broomrape family (formerly assigned to the figwort family).
• Stems up to 40 cm rise from a woody base.
• Most stems branch out and each branch turns skyward.
• Alternate leaves are linear and hairy.
• The inflorescence has many yellow terminal bracts forming a “brush” shape with small greenish flowers hidden among the bracts.
• All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a caption (species, date, and location).

• Capsules with many seeds form after flowering.
• Paintbrush are semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants.
• First nations people sometimes used the upper part of the plant to treat wounds.
• Castilleja thompsonii can be seen in the Interior of BC, Washington, and Oregon. Related paintbrushes can be found throughout North America.
• The herb is still listed in the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family) in many sources.

We can usually see Thompson’s paintbrush in May, June, and July on our daily outings, the yellowish tips sticking up in the wildflower art gallery of the spring bloom.