Illustration of Indian paintbrush
Indian paintbrush
noun
1
: any of a genus (Castilleja of the family Orobanchaceae) of chiefly American herbaceous plants that have brightly colored bracts
called also painted cup
2
Examples of Indian paintbrush in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From March to May, the hiking trails are sprinkled with vibrant yellow desert marigolds, deep purple lupines, and bright red and orange Indian paintbrush blooms, among other varieties.
—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
In late spring and early summer, the meadows are awash with vibrant wildflowers like lupine, Indian paintbrush, and asters.
—
AFAR Media,
7 July 2025
Bonus buds that time of year include lupine, Indian paintbrush, and chocolate lily.
—
Emma Veidt,
Outside Online,
14 Apr. 2025
Hikers can enjoy the coastal sage scrub vegetation, including blooming plants like Indian paintbrush, California broom and black sage.
—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Apr. 2024
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Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
In late spring and early summer, the meadows are awash with vibrant wildflowers like lupine, Indian paintbrush, and asters.
—
AFAR Media,
7 July 2025
Bonus buds that time of year include lupine, Indian paintbrush, and chocolate lily.
—
Emma Veidt,
Outside Online,
14 Apr. 2025
Hikers can enjoy the coastal sage scrub vegetation, including blooming plants like Indian paintbrush, California broom and black sage.
—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Indian paintbrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Indian%20paintbrush. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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