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Scarlet Standing Cypress

Ipomopsis aggregata

Other common name(s):

Skyrocket, Scarlet Gilia, Skunkflower

Family:

Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

.25
to
.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Biennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Showy, attractive accent for landscape. Let the flowers go to seed to keep up the biennial cycle: low rosettes in the first year and 2-4 ft tall plants with flowers the second year. Rosettes can be transplanted to other parts of your garden, in late Fall, but dig deep to get the tap roots. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Blooms May-October. In upper leaf axils and at tops of sparsely-leaved stems are clusters of bright red or deep pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. Deeply lobed leaves, with a faint skunky smell.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPAG. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=19295&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Ipomopsis+aggregata&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 156. 6) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=31192#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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