Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Christ's paintbrush (Castilleja christii)

Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Christ’s Indian paintbrush (Castilleja christii) is a perennial forb 6 to 20 inches tall, and is a striking yellow-to-yellow-orange color. The plant grows best in moist, subalpine meadows. It reproduces by seed, and plant growth begins around snowmelt, leading to peak flowering from July to mid-September. Only one population of this plant is known to exist in the world. This single population occurs on Mount Harrison, a gently sloping mountain-top at the north end of the Albion Mountains in south central Idaho (managed by the Sawtooth National Forest). The species is currently threatened primarily by smooth brome (Bromus inermis), an invasive grass species that is found within the population. The Forest Service and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife entered into a 10-year agreement in 2005 to work together on the conservation of this species.

Map of Species occurrence

For the best experience, make sure that javascript is enabled and that you have the Adobe Flash Player installed Click here to download and install the Flash Player

Click here to see static map image

Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



  • States/US Territories in which the Christ's paintbrush is known to or is believed to occur:  Idaho
  • US Counties in which the Christ's paintbrush is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
Pacific Region (Region 1)

» Candidate Information

Current Candidate Status

Species Assessment: Species Assessment Form for the Castilleja christii -- 58Kb
Candidate Notice of Review Documents (Showing 5 of 19: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
10/26/2011 76 FR 66370 66439 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
11/10/2010 75 FR 69222 69294 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
11/09/2009 74 FR 57804 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75176 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
12/06/2007 72 FR 69034 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 20: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/21/2012 77 FR 69993 70060 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
10/26/2011 76 FR 66370 66439 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
11/10/2010 75 FR 69222 69294 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
11/09/2009 74 FR 57804 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75176 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
Christ's paintbrush action plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search

No recovery information is available for the Christ's paintbrush.

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Christ's paintbrush.

» Conservation Plans

Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1)
CCA Plan Summaries
Christ's Indian paintbrush

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title Finding
11/21/2012 77 FR 69993 70060 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
  • Notice Candidacy Removal/Reclass, In conservation agreement
    • 10/26/2011 76 FR 66370 66439 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
  • Notice CNOR

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 19, 2013