Castilleja tenuiflora

Cultivation Details

Castilleja tenuiflora is a native of moderate to high elevations from the warm temperate regions of southwestern N. America to the tropics of southern Mexico and Guatemala, usually in semi-arid climates. Most species succeed in full sun in a light, well-drained sandy soil with added humus^[1]. Castilleja species are usually semi root parasites, and do not grow well without suitable hosts growing nearby^[1]. We do not have information, at present, as to which species it can parasitize. Castilleja tenuiflora is often sold in the medicinal plants markets of Mexico. It is extracted from its natural environment in high and semi-arid areas of Mexico at elevations from 2,300 - 3,300 metres, areas that are threatened every day by human activity. Due to the medicinal properties of the plant, it is important to develop methods that allow its conservation, as well as the maintenance of subculture lines, which contain the main compounds of interest, for their disposal^[2].