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Malto
05-20-2014, 21:25
Found this in my PCT pictures. Been trying to talk my wife into planting Indian Paintbrush which is my favorite wildflower. But what is this flower?

Damn Yankee
05-20-2014, 22:05
How about Peyote?

Feral Bill
05-20-2014, 22:37
Found near tree line? Might be moss campion. Hard to tell from here.

Malto
05-21-2014, 06:28
It was high on the ridge in Northern Ca.

Minerva
05-21-2014, 07:15
Perhaps a Siskiyou Bitterroot or cliff maid is my guess. "Lewisia cotyledon is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family. It is native to southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in rocky subalpine mountain habitat."
Cindy

Malto
05-21-2014, 08:51
Perhaps a Siskiyou Bitterroot or cliff maid is my guess. "Lewisia cotyledon is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family. It is native to southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in rocky subalpine mountain habitat."
Cindy

thank you!! Usually I can identify the flowers but this one stumped me.

Dogwood
05-21-2014, 18:04
It's a Lewisia. For me, some species of Lewisia are so easy to grow and others I can't get established. Most like drying out between watering. You need excellent drainage, from what I know, when growing Lewisias. Most don't like soggy soil. I seem to have the best growing when I use a very gritty sharp draining soil with a bit of humus/compost mixed into the mix. They are often grown in rock gardens. I think your pic shows some Sedum species or other succulent growing in the same crack in the rocks. That's been my experience as well. Grow Lewisias with other succulents but not in harsh drying sun.

Dogwood
05-21-2014, 18:09
http://www.wildgingerfarm.com/GrowLewisia.htm Where do U live Malto? Indian Paintbrushes(Catilleja species), from what I've seen, don't do well in the east. Out west/mid west they grow like weeds though.

Malto
05-21-2014, 18:52
http://www.wildgingerfarm.com/GrowLewisia.htm Where do U live Malto? Indian Paintbrushes(Catilleja species), from what I've seen, don't do well in the east. Out west/mid west they grow like weeds though.

In PA, zone 6b. I have heard that Indian paintbrush is very hard to grow. But I really would love to have some along with some other western wildflowers such as lewisia. I know its a long shot but there is nothing that puts me in a better mood then seeing a patch of Indian Paintbrush.

oldnevada
07-11-2014, 16:35
Found this in my PCT pictures. Been trying to talk my wife into planting Indian Paintbrush which is my favorite wildflower. But what is this flower?
I'm seeing Siskiyou Lewisia (Lewisia cotyledon)as well. (Audubon Fld. Guide to NA Wildflowers, Western Region '79. plate 547 descript. pps 682) Puslane family. Flower Ap-May. Rock crevices and cliffs. N. CA to S. Oregon.

Dogwood
07-11-2014, 18:15
http://virginiawildflowers.org/2012/04/16/indian-paintbrush/
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hemiparasite

Apparently Indian Paintbrush grows in all 50 states. I haven't seen much of it west of the Mississippi River at least not in the large sweeps I notice in the west though. However, that doesn't necessarily mean large colonies don't exist in the eastern U.S. states. After reading those links I would first determine which Castellija species do best in the east. Castellija has some 200 species but I believe C. mutis http://us.geoview.info/indian_paintbrush_castilleja_mutis_scrophulariacea e,2356228p and perhaps C. coccinea grow in PA. http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Pennsylvania&statefips=42&symbol=CASTI2 Under what conditions they grow in your region I would find out next. Specifically, I would locate Indian Paintbrush growing in PA and see what other plants in PA they are living near carefully noting their parasitic host preference, which seems to often be some type of grasses. Note where and under what conditions Indian Paintbrush in your area are doing well. I would establish host plants first that the semi parasitic Indian Paintbrush partially lives off in your area. THEN, I would sow Castellija seed preferably Indian Paintbrush seed taken from plants living in your area. See what happens.

Dogwood
07-11-2014, 18:19
Notice what's growing next to the Castellija in the geoview link to the bottom right of the pic? It looks like a Lewisia.

Here's some more info. http://voices.yahoo.com/indian-paintbrush-difficult-grow-7458154.html
I should get a librarian's salary around here. LOL.