Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Genus:
- Ipomopsis
- Species:
- Ipomopsis aggregata
- USDA Symbol:
- IPAG
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- red, orange, pink, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
- Hummingbirds:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Spotted Straw Moth (Heliothis phloxiphaga)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) Butterflies:Papilio multicaudata
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, butterflies, hawk moths
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal rosette after fire; often increases in abundance following disturbance in montane communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in open, rocky slopes and meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: 45 days of cold, moist stratification
Establishment: Seed from montane Oregon germinated poorly under all conditions. Slightly higher emergence was obtained from plants grown outdoors under cool, fluctuating growing conditions but these plants were not ready to be transplanted to the field the same spring. Collecting seed is difficult and time-consuming due to the plant's indeterminate flowering and forceful dehiscence of capsules upon ripening.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Resents transplanting.