Both harsh and alpine paintbrush are restricted to a more southern range, not usually ranging further north than northern Vancouver Island. unalaschcensis). Small-flowered paintbrush is generally found only at higher elevations, in subalpine and alpine meadows. rhexifolia), and unalaska paintbrush ( C.

There are a few similar species in the same genus that may be found on the Central Coast, including the small-flowered paintbrush ( C. It is less frequent towards the north of its range and on Haida Gwaii. It grows from low to subalpine elevations. The common red paintbrush is broadly distributed, ranging north to Alaska and the Yukon Territory, east across the Canadian prairies to western Ontario, and southeast to the central US, including North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

This species can be found in numerous habitats throughout BC, including open woods, wet and dry meadows, fens, grassy slopes, tidal marshes, clearings, roadsides, thickets, and gravel bars. This perennial plant grows 20-80 cm tall from a woody base, and may grow singly or in clusters. The dark-coloured stems bear 3-10 cm long lance-shaped, pointed leaves. The bracts can vary from light orange to bright red or scarlet, and can occasionally be yellow, while the small flowers are green and tubular, appearing somewhat leaf-like among the bracts. Common red paintbrush is most easily identified by the vibrant red-hued tuft topping each stem, like the end of a paintbrush this structure looks like a flower but is actually a cluster of bracts surrounding the plant's many small, inconspicuous flowers.

Yellow paintbrush colorado