Castilleja subinclusa, commonly known as Longleaf Indian Paintbrush, is a perennial herb native to California and Baja California, where it is found in a variety of habitats including chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and open woodlands. It can exceed 3 feet in height and has a spreading habit with gray-green to purple hairy foliage. The plant is particularly noted for its striking inflorescence, which can reach up to 16 inches long, featuring bright red-orange to deep red bracts with inconspicuous lighter flowers that bloom from April to July. The showy bracts are often mistaken for petals, making the plant a standout in its native environment.

Longleaf Indian Paintbrush is valued for its vibrant color and unique appearance, which can add interest to native plant gardens, wildflower meadows, and restoration projects. It is adapted to well-drained soils and requires little water once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. It prefers full sun to light shade. While generally low-maintenance, it is a hemiparasitic plant that obtains some nutrients from the roots of neighboring plants, which should be considered when planting. There are no known subspecies of Castilleja subinclusa that occur together, and it does not typically present major disease problems. However, it may not compete well with aggressive plants or in overly fertile soils.CC BY-SA 4.0