This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Downy Painted Cup
Castilleja sessiliflora
PerennialDowny Painted Cup
Castilleja sessiliflora
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Full Sun
Water
Dry
Soil
Sandy
Size
0.5-1.5'
Bloom
Yellow, May–Jun
Why Grow It
Drought Tolerant
Thrives with little water once established
Rock Garden
Thrives in rocky, well-drained spots
Did You Know?
Like all paintbrushes, Downy Painted Cup is hemiparasitic — to grow it successfully, sow seeds directly into a cut at the base of a host grass plant.
Good companion hosts include short grasses like Hairy Grama, Blue Grama, Buffalo Grass, and Pennsylvania Sedge.
Its range extends from Alberta to Texas, making it one of the most widespread paintbrush species on the Great Plains.
Wildlife Value
🦋
Hawk Moths
Long-tongued moths are key pollinators
🐝
Native Bees
Bees visit pale tubular flowers for nectar
🐦
Hummingbirds
Attracted to tubular flower structure
Good Companions
🌾 Blue Grama Grass
🌿 Buffalo Grass
🌼 Prairie Junegrass
Planting Guide
- Sow seed near host grasses in dry, infertile prairie soil.
- Needs full sun and excellent drainage; avoid rich soils.
- Hemiparasitic — always plant with a grass host nearby.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li