Efforts to Save Endangered Swale Paintbrush Flower in New Mexico Gain Momentum

A rare flower native to New Mexico, the swale paintbrush—also known as the glowing Indian paintbrush—has been declared endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The swale paintbrush thrives in a unique ecosystem located in the far southwestern corner of New Mexico, with its U.S. range barely extending past the border. Historically, the flower grew across multiple sites in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico. Today, it is found in only one known location in Hidalgo County.

“To help bring the swale paintbrush back from the verge of extinction, we are collaborating with conservation partners in the United States and Mexico,” said Amy Lueders, USFWS Regional Director, in a news release. “We greatly appreciate their efforts—partnerships are essential to protecting this vulnerable, rare plant.”

The flower’s historic range has been significantly reduced by human activities such as agricultural development, intensive grazing, and water diversions. Other threats include surface disturbances, drought, fires, trampling, inundation, or competition from other vegetation—particularly during the swale paintbrush’s growing season.

To aid in conservation efforts, the USFWS is calling on citizen scientists to help identify additional populations of the swale paintbrush. “We need help from the public to locate more of these flowers,” said Katie Sandbom, a biologist with New Mexico’s Ecological Services Field Office.

Through collaborative efforts and public participation, conservationists hope to protect and restore the swale paintbrush before it is lost forever.

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