Ditto. I had a whole 'Prairie in a pot' with Indian paintbrush and several other plants for it to parasitize, and it just disappeared after a couple of seasons. Its' hemiparasitic nature is a relatively new discovery, so there isn't a lot of information about which plants it prefers to parasitize, so maybe I didn't have the right ones - although, from what I've read, it isn't supposed to be very picky about what plants it parasitizes. It can technically live on its own because, having green leaves, it can photosynthesize. But it is more robust with a host. I suggest getting the seeds as opposed to the plant, and make sure the soil you plant it in is poor in nutrients. Lupines make a good host, and bind nitrogen to the soil, which might give the paintbrush a chlorophyll boost. The DNR is trying to reestablish paintbrush on a pimpled prairie near here (Mima Mounds State Park). They get plants from a little old lady who grows them in her back yard and they plant them all over the park. Each individual plant has an ID tag, and its location is marked on a map with the help of a GPS. The plants are monitored very closely. All I can say is, if the DNR is having so much trouble growing them, do not be discouraged if you try and fail, or have little success.

looking for indian paintbrush plants or seeds , let me know what you want to trade that i have , thanks so much

I have some Texas one. Its native here. Color varies from orangish to crimson. Even can tell you how to gather seeds. Needs to be planted real soon though and get natures water will start growing and bloom from end of Feb to June depending on how much water it gets. If in your yard, water well. More water, the more blooms. But you will need another flower to plant with it, like we do with blue bonnets. Paintbrush is a parasite plant that much have the root system of another plant to get its water, nutrients. It can't grow alone. Just drop me a note at cllsnavywife@yahoo.com I'd love some snapdragons.

I have spiderwort but I dont' have any seeds right now. Spiderwort goes to seed early in the year - so I would have some seeds around june or july. If you send me a reminder email in June, I can send you some spiderwort seeds next year...