Castilleja Species, Aquarius Plateau Indian Paintbrush

I live in a town that is located beneath the Aquarius Plateau of the Boulder Mountain in central Utah. I have seen the Aquarius Indian Pa...Read Moreintbrush every summer since I was old enough to walk. It is thicker through the stem and blossom than the Castilleja variety that grows on the lower elevations of the Dixie And Fish Lake National Forests. Also, the Aquarius blossom's are yellow, rather than Orange or Red like the more common varieties that grow in Utah. Their blooms are a soft buttery yellow, not gold yellow like a dandy lion. The foiliage is a light yellow green when they first bloom in the beginning of July, so they stand out from the green grass and dark volcanic rock that covers the top of boulder.

My goal is to successfully harvest Castilleja aquariensis seed and propagate this rare species. It is protected though because it is very rare, and I'm not sure if it is legal to snip a few blossoms from their natural habitat, so I don't know if I can share more than pictures of this plant with other wildflower collectors

This plant is a U.S. native and grows in Utah. It is a Federal candidate for listing as threatened or endangered. Flower spikes are vib...Read Morerant yellow and foliage is a lovely burgundy. Blooming occurs from late June to August. It prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils.