It’s a good choice for Rock gardens, hummingbird and butterfly gardens and naturalized desertscapes. It’s hemi parasitic – meaning that it needs a parasite plant and relies on the host for water. You must plant it in the rooting zone of a companion plant like sagebrush.
According to Wikipedia, “The flowers of Indian paintbrush are edible and sweet, and were consumed in moderation by various American Indian tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens.” Who knew the Indians had a gourmet streak! “These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate Selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed.”
You can buy Indian Paintbrush from Rugged Country Plants and they sell it already with a host plant of a native grass or perennial.
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