Felt Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) is in the broomrape family family (Orobanchaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,436 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from February to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Felt Paintbrush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Felt Paintbrush
Castilleja foliolosa is a species of Indian paintbrush, known by the common names woolly Indian paintbrush and Texas Indian paintbrush.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Felt Paintbrush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,436 | April | Feb–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (broomrape family)
Warrior's Plume
Canadian lousewort
Purple Owl's-Clover
Mediterranean lineseed
American cancer-root
Texas Paintbrush
One-Flowered Cancer-Root
Narrowleaf Cow Wheat
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Felt Paintbrush?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to May.
Where is Felt Paintbrush most often seen?
The most observations come from California.