Wyoming State Flower: Indian Paintbrush

The Indian Paintbrush stands as the floral emblem of Wyoming. Each spike displays bright red to orange bracts surrounding small greenish-yellow flowers. The colorful bracts measure 1 to 2 inches long. True flowers hide inside the showy bracts. Plants grow 12 to 36 inches tall. Narrow leaves cluster along upright stems. The brilliant color comes from modified leaves rather than petals.

Indian Paintbrush blooms from June through September across Wyoming. Peak flowering occurs in July and August throughout most regions. The Bighorn Mountains, Yellowstone ecosystem, and Thunder Basin grasslands showcase vibrant displays. Individual blooms last two to three weeks. Plants prefer well-drained sandy or rocky soil. Full sun suits paintbrush best at elevations from 4,000 to 11,000 feet.

Native paintbrush populations grow wild throughout Wyoming in prairies, sagebrush flats, and mountain meadows. The plants are hemiparasitic, connecting roots to nearby grasses and wildflowers. This allows paintbrush to steal water and nutrients from host plants. Hummingbirds and long-tongued bees pollinate the tubular flowers. Over a dozen Castilleja species grow in Wyoming, all displaying variations of red and orange hues.

The common name is Indian Paintbrush. The scientific name is Castilleja linariifolia. The plant belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. This family includes parasitic and hemiparasitic plants found worldwide, containing about 2,000 species.

Castilleja honors Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo who studied plants in the 18th century. The species name linariifolia means leaves like Linaria, referring to the narrow leaf shape similar to toadflax plants. The common name Indian paintbrush comes from legend. Native American stories tell of a young artist who tried to paint sunset colors. Frustrated, he asked the Great Spirit for help. Brushes dipped in sunset appeared, and where he left them, these flowers grew.

Regional names include painted cup, prairie fire, and Wyoming paintbrush. The Shoshone and Arapaho peoples knew the plant by different names in their languages. Some called it flame flower for its brilliant color. Wyoming's designation allows multiple Castilleja species to represent the state, though Castilleja linariifolia appears most commonly across the plains and foothills.

The legislature named the Indian Paintbrush as Wyoming's official state flower in 1917. Wyoming school children had campaigned for the paintbrush. The brilliant wildflower grew abundantly across the state. Its red-orange color matched Wyoming's rugged landscape and frontier spirit.

Indian paintbrush bloomed throughout Wyoming's diverse elevations. The flowers appeared on prairie grasslands, sagebrush hills, and high mountain meadows. Ranchers and homesteaders recognized the plant easily. Its vibrant spikes stood out against green grass and gray sagebrush. The flower represented Wyoming's wild character and natural beauty from the plains to the peaks.

Artists and photographers captured paintbrush in Wyoming landscapes. The flower grew in every county across the state. No formal vote occurred among citizens. The legislature recognized the plant's cultural significance and widespread presence. Indian paintbrush remains one of Wyoming's most photographed and recognized wildflowers over a century after designation.

The Western Meadowlark serves as Wyoming's state bird, a yellow-breasted songbird with a distinctive flute-like call heard across prairies and grasslands. Both symbols represent Wyoming officially. Wyoming adopted the Indian Paintbrush in 1917 and designated the Western Meadowlark as state bird in 1927.

The Indian Paintbrush is commonly seen as representing Wyoming's wild frontier spirit, natural beauty, and rugged independence. The flower has been linked to resilience through its ability to thrive in harsh conditions from low prairies to high alpine zones. Its brilliant red-orange color traditionally symbolizes vitality and passion while carrying connotations of Wyoming's dramatic sunsets and untamed landscapes stretching from the plains to mountain peaks.