Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) has a natural range spanning from California to parts of  British Columbia and Alberta. Harsh Paintbrush typically thrives in meadows, open grasslands, and disturbed areas, often found growing alongside native bunchgrasses as a hemiparasite (partially obtaining its nutrients from other plants). The strikingly vibrant inflorescence, which consists of colorful bracts surrounding small, inconspicuous flowers, range in color from shades of red and orange to yellow or pink. 
 
The bloom season of Harsh Paintbrush typically occurs from late spring to early summer, with its peak bloom period ranging from May to July. During this time, the colorful bracts are in full display and attract diverse pollinators, most notably bumblebees and hummingbirds, who are highly atracted to the vibrant reds and well-suited to feed from the small, tubular flowers. Harsh Paintbrush is also known for its specialized relationship with certain species of ants by producing tiny, oil-rich seeds that are collected and then further dispersed by the ants (myrmecochory). 
 
Harsh Paintbrush prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a variety of soil textures, including sandy or loamy soils. It is adapted to harsh, nutrient-poor environments, but as a hemiparasite it significantly benefits from root contact with established host plants in the genus Festuca, Eriophyllum, or Erigeron. Germination and establishment can be improved by fall sowing in seed flats (surface sow or lightly cover with sand) and planting seedlings within the root zones of host plants the following year.