Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata

Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata. Yarnell Arizona August 31, 2008.

Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata First Year Plant Photo	Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata Second Year Plant Photo
Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata Leaf & Stem Photo	Scarlet Gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata Flower Bud & Leaves Photo

Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata, Phlox Family ( Polemoniaceae ), Scarlet Gilia. Also called: Skyrocket, Scarlet Trumpet Flower, Sky Trumpet, Cantua aggregata, Gilia aggregata, Gilia aggregata subsp. aggregata, Ipomopsis aggregata subsp. aggregta. Scarlet Gilia is a biennial or perennial flowering plant of the Polemoniaceae family. It is native to western North America, growing mainly in the central to western regions and ranging from as far north as British Columbia and south to Mexico. Scarlet gilia is a biennial; -- the first year it produces a dense cluster of leaves and no stem; then during the second year, it produces one or more 1 to 3 foot stems with numerous flowers. Ipomopsis aggregata has characteristic red, trumpet-shaped flowers and basal leaves stemming from a single erect stem. Its flowers, stems and foliage have an unpleasant (skunk-like) odor when crushed. The stems and leaves are sticky and covered by fine hairs. The inflorescence is glandualr, open, and long and narrow. The flowers are clustered near the ends of the branches. The calyx is 5-7 mm long. The corolla is very showy, with a long, gradually flared tube from 15 to 35 mm long, with the spreading lobes 6 to 13 mm long. The corolla is an intense scarlet or occasionally whitish with scarlet spots. It is a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies, wasps, and bees. Its fruits are capsule shaped. The common name, “Gilia”, honors Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756-1821), a scientist and astronomer. The genus name, “Ipomopsis”, is from the Greek “ipo” which means “to strike" and “opsis” which means "appearance", so put together means “striking appearance”. The species name, “aggregata”, means “clustered” and refers to the close arrangement of flowers. Ipomopsis aggregata prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. Height: Up To About 3 3/4 inches to 3 1/4 feet tall. Flowers: Flowers range from fiery red to red/orange. Hermaphrodite, 5 united lobed tubular scarlet petals with pointed flaring lobes; 5 lobed sepals; stamens usually 5; 1 pistil; flowers are 0.6” to 2” long. Producing a capsule fruit. Blooming Time: May - October, in Yarnell, Arizona. Leaves: The leaves are basal and also found on the stem. They are silver speckled with fine white hairs. The stem leaves become reduced in size upwards on the stem. They are usually 7/8 inch to 2 inches long, occasionally to 4 inches long, and are pinnatifid and very dissected. The herbage ranges from glabrous to tomentose. Found: Found in western USA; riparian, desert shrub, and pinyon-juniper communities. Elevation: 3,000 - 7,000 Feet. Habitat: Open grassy places and woods. Also seeps, springs, streams and moist soils. Full sun to part shade. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken North Of Shrine Road, Yarnell, Arizona. August 31, 2008 at 4,800 feet.