Ipomopsis aggregata

(syn. Gilia aggregata)

Scarlet Gilia, Skyrocket

Photos courtesy of: © Judd Patterson and W.D. Bransford

Range

Grows in most of the western United States, from British Columbia south to California and Texas. (1,2)

Map courtesy of: USDA PLANTS Database

Climate, elevation

Grows at high elevations south of southern Washington and at most elevations east of the Cascades. Prefers warm, dry climate. (3, 4)

Local occurrence

Very common and widespread east of the Cascades. (2, 3)

Habitat preferences

Dry, rocky slopes; lightly wooded areas; grasslands, and open forests. (1,3,4)

Plant strategy type/successional stage

Often follows disturbance; mid-seral species.

Associated species

Eastern Cascades: common gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata), white sweet-clover (Melilotus alba), least bladdery milk-vetch (Astragalus microcystis), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).

May be collected as

Seed only, collect in summer. (1)

Collection restrictions or guidelines

No collection restrictions.

Seed germination

Requires no treatment. (1)

Seed life

No information available

Recommended seed storage conditions

No information available

Propagation recommendations

Propagate by seed into flats, covering the seeds lightly with soil. Seeds will germinate best if flats are kept at 70°F. Keep the soil moist until plants are well established. (1,7)

Soil or medium requirements

Will grow in a range of soil textures, but prefers well-drained medium; pH range of 7.0 to 8.5. (2)

Installation form

Direct seeding highly recommended; may also be installed as transplants. Must be grown in full or part sun. (6)

Recommended planting density

10,000 to 25,000 plants per acre (2)

Care requirements after installed

Whether direct seeding or transplanting, water regularly until plants become established. (1)

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Rapidly growing biennial or short-lived perennial; up to one meter tall and 0.3 meters wide. Scarlet gilia usually dies after flowering. (2,3,5,6)

Sources cited

1. Rose, R., C.E.C. Chachulski and D.L. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press.

2. PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=IPAG. Accessed 20 April 2006.

3. Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. Vancouver, BC, Canada: British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing.

4. Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

5. Kruckeburg, A.R. 2003. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

6. Plants for a Future Database. www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ipomopsis+aggregata. Accessed 24 April 2006.

7. Rocky Mountain Rare Plants. www.rmrp.com/. Accessed 26 April 2006.

Data compiled by

Alaine Sommargren, 24 April 2006