Wyoming

The Story Behind the Indian Paintbrush

Picture yourself hiking through the mountains of Wyoming in the middle of summer. The meadows are filled with greens, golds, and blues. Then, scattered across the landscape, brilliant splashes of fiery red catch your eye. At first glance, they look like flowers dipped in fresh paint. Those colorful "petals" aren't actually petals at all—they're bright red leaves called bracts, and they're what make the Indian paintbrush one of the most recognizable wildflowers in the American West. It's bold, resilient, and impossible to ignore. Just like Wyoming.

This short video shares how the Indian paintbrush became Wyoming's state flower and why one determined woman helped change the state's floral history.

Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja linariifolia

The Indian paintbrush grows throughout Wyoming's prairies, foothills, and mountain meadows, bringing brilliant color to the landscape each summer.

A few things that make it special:

Native to the American West

Blooms from late spring through summer
Known for its bright red, orange, or scarlet bracts that resemble brushstrokes of paint
A semi-parasitic plant that gathers some of its nutrients from neighboring plants while still producing its own energy through photosynthesis

Its unusual growing habit helps it thrive in Wyoming's rugged landscapes, where conditions can be challenging for many other wildflowers.

Why It Became the State Flower

When Wyoming became a state in 1890, it didn't immediately adopt an official flower.

For years, the wild rose was considered a leading candidate.

Then Dr. Grace R. Hebard, a professor at the University of Wyoming, stepped in.

She believed the Indian paintbrush was a better symbol of the state because it naturally flourished across Wyoming's mountains and plains. To her, it represented the rugged beauty and resilience of the people who lived there.

Dr. Hebard didn't simply suggest the idea.

She wrote the bill herself, found a legislator to introduce it, and rallied support from schoolchildren across Wyoming and the Wyoming chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Their campaign worked.

In 1917, the Indian paintbrush officially became Wyoming's state flower.

More than a century later, its vivid color still lights up Wyoming's landscapes every summer.

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