The Indian paintbrush is the official state flower of Wyoming — a fiery red-orange wildflower that looks as though its tips were dipped in paint.

• Official flower: Indian paintbrush
• Scientific name: Castilleja linariifolia
• Year adopted: 1917
• Native range: the western U.S.

About the indian paintbrush

Wyoming adopted the Wyoming Indian paintbrush in 1917. The vivid color comes not from petals but from bracts surrounding the small true flowers. Interestingly, the plant is partly parasitic, tapping into the roots of neighboring plants for some of its nutrients.

Where it grows

Indian paintbrush grows across the sagebrush plains and mountain meadows of the western United States, including Wyoming, blooming in late spring and summer.

Wyoming state flower FAQs

What is the state flower of Wyoming?

Wyoming’s state flower is the indian paintbrush (Castilleja linariifolia), which it adopted in 1917.

When did Wyoming adopt its state flower?

Wyoming designated the indian paintbrush as its official state flower in 1917.

Why is it called Indian paintbrush?

The flower’s clustered red-orange bracts look as though they were dipped in paint, which gives the plant its common name.

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