Ipomopsis

( eye - poh - MOP - sis )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is filled with species of plants which produce narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers. They are native to the Americas, and are biennial or short-lived perennials. In the garden, these flowers need full sun to perform well. They thrive in low-water conditions and their flowers will attract hummingbirds to the garden. Blooms can be anywhere from deep red to cream and bloom in the summertime. Use Ipomopsis flowers as focal points, to supplement pollinator gardens, in meadows or naturalized areas, or at the back of mixed beds and borders.

iPOMOPSIS Species and Varietals

The genus Ipomopsis is a member of the plant family Polemoniaceae and includes 29 species. These plants are closely related to those in the genus Gilia. The best growing zones for these flowers are USDA hardiness zones 5-9, though this varies somewhat depending on the species grown. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ipomopsis aggregata (Gilia aggregata) (Scarlet Trumpet, Scarlet Gillia, Skyrocket, Fairy Trumpet, Trumpet Gilia, Skunk Flower)
This biennial plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-3, 6-14 and 18-21. It is native in the areas of the West Coast in California up to British Columbia, then east to the Rocky Mountains. It grows to 2.5 feet tall and 1 foot wide, with red-marked yellow flowers (sometimes pure yellow) that are held in clusters.

Ipomopsis arizonica (Arizona Firecracker, Arizona Ipomopsis, Arizona Skyrocket, Arizona Scarlet Gilia)
These plants are native to southeastern California, southern Nevada and northern Arizona. These are monocarpic plants, flowering and setting seed once before dying. Flowers are bright red and pollinated by hummingbirds. Individual plants reach up to between 4 and 18 inches tall.

Ipomopsis congesta (Ballhead Ipomopsis, Ballhead , Many-Flowered Gilia)
This species is native to many areas in western North America, and varies in appearance. They can be creeping (to 4 inches tall) or erect (to 12 inches tall). Flowers are funnel-shaped and white to cream in color, commonly with pale yellow throats.

Ipomopsis polyantha (Pagosa Ipomopsis, Pagosa Skyrocket, Archuleta County Standing-Cypress)
This species is endemic to Colorado and is threatened by habitat loss in its range in Archuleta County. Flowers are white with tiny purple dots, and stamens are tipped with blue pollen that matures to yellow. This species thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4a-5b.

Ipomopsis rubra (Gilia rubra) (Standing Cypress, Texas Plume, Trailing Fire, Spanish Larkspur, Indian Plume, Scarlet Gilia)
This plant is either a biennial or perennial, and is best in USDA hardiness zones 6-10 or Sunset growing zones 2, 3, 7-9 and 14-24. It is native to the southern United States and grows to 6 feet tall and a foot wide. Flowers are red on the outside and yellow-marked red on the inside.

Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus (Holy Ghost Ipomopsis, Holy Ghost Skyrocket)
Endemic to New Mexico, this species is considered endangered, and is at high risk for extinction. It is native to a 2-mile stretch of Holy Ghost Canyon in Santa Fe National Forest. Plants reach between 12 and 31 inches tall, and flowers are bright pink and tubular.

Ipomopsis spicata (Spiked Ipomopsis, Spike Gilia)
This species is native to the western United States and produces cream-colored flowers in springtime. These plants can grow in many distinct habitats, and therefore there are many cultivars and subspecies. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-7.

Ipomopsis tenuifolia (Slenderleaf Skyrocket, Slenderleaf Ipomopsis)
These plants are native to Mexico, California, and Arizona, and grow in deserts and chaparral landscapes. These plants have narrow to threadlike leaves and produce inflorescences of between one and seven bright scarlet flowers. Stamens have white to purple anthers and stigmas are white. Best in USDA hardiness zones 5a-9b.

Ipomopsis tenuituba (Slendertube Skyrocket, Slendertube Ipomopsis, Slender-Trumpet Standing Cypress)
This species is native to western North America, mainly California and Colorado. Flowers are very pale pink to medium pink, sometimes with white striping. It is a perennial species, but monocarpic. Plants reach up to 1-3 feet tall when mature and in bloom. Best in USDA hardiness zones 5b-7a.

Caring for ipomopsis

Plant Ipomopsis flowers in a space in the garden that receives full sun (ideally between 6 and 8 hours each day). They are highly tolerant to drought, and can be planted in areas of the garden without formal irrigation. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.5 and 8.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area after installing in order to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants are very drought tolerant, and are able to get by for most of the year on rainwater alone. In extended periods of drought, provide supplemental irrigation.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Prune off spent flower inflorescences to clean up the look of plants and to discourage reseeding. If you are looking to collect seeds for propagation, make sure to leave some faded flowering heads on plants so that seeds can mature. After they die back to the ground, they can be cut to a few inches tall. These flowers are considered short-lived perennials or biennials, producing a basal rosette of foliage in their first year and tall spikes topped with flowers in their second. They are commonly pulled at the end of their flowering season, composted, and replaced in the next. They can also be left in place to enrich the soil and will freely re-seed in sufficient growing conditions, providing plants for the garden indefinitely.

Propagation

Ipomopsis, or Scarlet Gilia, flowers are best propagated via seed. These flowers will also freely re-seed in the garden at the end of their blooming season (if not deadheaded), and volunteer plants will appear around them. These plants can be dug up and planted elsewhere when they are seedlings. For instructions on how to intentionally propagate your Scarlet Gilia flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Ipomopsis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a container, a pot or tray, potting medium, and a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Ipomopsis seeds are located inside seed pods, which are dry and brown, present atop stems after flowers have faded. Each achene contains one light brown to reddish-brown seed. Collect seeds and place them in a container during harvesting to avoid losing them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them lightly with soil and water with a spray bottle. Place the sown seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of a fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet. Keep your seedling in an area with bright light and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.