Species Paintbrush Owlclover
yellow-white flowers with green-brown foliage

Paintbrush Owlclover

Castilleja ambigua

Also Known As - Johnny Nip
Paintbrush Owlclover (Castilleja ambigua) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial native to western North America. Its lush, multicolored foliage is a bright addition to any flower bed. The lower leaves are light green to yellow green and softly hairy with darker green outlines. The upper leaves are dark green with white specs and have pale yellow margins. It produces tall flower spikes up to 18 inches in height. The flowers are a combination of yellow, orange, and white, creating an unique color combination. This showy plant is drought tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, making it a great addition to any garden.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

Sun, Partial Shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The Paintbrush Owlclover, (Castilleja ambigua) should be watered deeply and infrequently. It should be watered about once every 2 weeks during the summer months and about once a month during the winter months. When watering, ensure the soil is moist but not soggy and that the entire root system is getting an even amount of moisture. If the soil starts to dry out quickly, you may need to water more frequently.

sunlight

Paintbrush Owlclover prefers full sun and does best in hot and dry areas. To ensure this species stays vigorous and blooms abundantly, it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day during the growing season. It should receive morning sun and dappled sun in the afternoon, as too much direct sun can cause its foliage to scorch. Make sure to plant it in an area that is free from intense afternoon sun. The ideal amount of sunlight for Paintbrush Owlclover would be 6 to 8 hours per day.

pruning

Paintbrush owlclover (Castilleja ambigua) should be pruned when it blooms in late summer and fall. Pruning should only be done lightly. It is best to remove only ⅓ of the length of each flower stem at a time, to prevent the plant from becoming leggy. Depending on the age of the plant, new shoots can be trimmed back by a few inches or more to encourage denser growth and bushier plants. Pruning should also be done as the plant is actively growing—in late spring or early summer—to keep it looking neat and encourage fresh bloom growth.