Indian Paintbrush Flower; Wyoming State Flower

Apart of Erica Catherine's US State Flower Collection, the Indian Paintbrush Flower represents both the State of Wyoming. The Wild Red flowers are shown on top of a purple color background.

The Indian Paintbrush was adopted as the state flower of Wyoming in 1917 despite the initial tough opposition it faced. Polls among the state's school children showed that the Indian Paintbrush was their favorite. The debate caught the eye of two different botanists. Dr. Aven Nelson of the University of Wyoming objected to the plant being named the state flower because it was uncommon and has a lot of varieties. On the opposing side was Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, who promoted the Indian Paintbrush and even helped to draft the legislation and find a sponsor for the bill. Apart of the figwort family the perennial plant has a showy red flower that makes the plant look as if it's been dipped in red paint. Despite their appearance the red flower aren't actually flower at all. They are brightly colored bracts, the smaller and much more inconspicuous. The plants are considered "hemiparasites" meaning that they prefer to attach to other plants and suck the nutrients from the host plant. Because it prefers to have a host plant, it makes them much more difficult to grow.

Inspired by the natural and antique details that call to Erica's Old soul, she aims to bring that special spirit to all of her designs. Each drawing is created by hand using a mixture of graphite drawing with watercolor layering over the top to create the ethereal and vintage inspired work that harks back to turn of the century botanical illustration.