Well it seems you know about everything you need to know. But it just may come to you letting the grass grow there also. I cannot see why if you are going wildflowers. As for self seeding those along the road seem to do just fine without any help even when they get mowed down after their blooms are gone and the seeds have dried. It is as semi-root-parasite. I had one gowning in my yard with all the grass cut just like the rest of my yard. I only problem I had was one of those fools working for the city took his bush-hog and cut it below the soil level. This was the only thing he touched as I kept my yard cut all the time.

Here in Texas they grow wild. Years back I dug up some; all different colors. I loved them so much I made sure I planted them in good soil and took great care to be sure there were no weeds to prevent their growth and they died. Seems they are a partial root parasite and need other plants to feed off for their food supply. So the next time I planted them next to my drainage ditch and some nice City employee came by with his mower and cut into the earth to be sure he killed the plant. I had always kept my yard mowed without the cities help but that ended my planting of Indian paintbrush plants. Have never tried harvesting their seeds. Thanks for the post brings back memories of their beauty. Paul

Hornholler, I really have no room for the shrub/tree but stumbled across a photo of the black one in the bluestone catalogue..I appreciate the offer but I am going to pass. I did look at your want list and will check later if I still have some indian paint brush seeds. I planted mine and they came u so I don't need the rest. I can't remember if I sent them to someone in the secret santa swap. I will post here if I find them. Thank you again for the offer! Lisa/ishare

I tried sowing it in the same container as little bluestem seeds and I think I had one or two seedlings of it come up with the grass. The foliage looked about right anyways. I didn't get it planted until quite late in the season when the container was rootbound, so I don't know if it will survive or not though. On the prairie moon site (link below) they say you can sow them together, or damage the roots of an existing host grass and sow the seeds there. I probably sowed them sometime between January and mid-February. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/castilleja-coccinea-indian-paintbrush.html