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Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis rubra

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
eye-poh-MOP-sis ROO-bruh
Description

This native biennial wildflower is grown as a half-hardy annual though, through reseeding, it can remain in the garden for many years. Sow seed into lightly raked soil in the fall to propagate. Plants produce a fern-like rosette the first year and a flower spike the second. Cutting back the spent flower spike will force a second bloom.  The bright red, showy, tubular flowers arranged to bloom downward on the thick spike attract hummingbirds. It prefers well-drained soil from gravelly to sandy or medium loam. It grows in full sun but can tolerate light shade and can be drought tolerant and deer resistant.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#biennial#red flowers#upright form#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#native garden#tall#native wildflower#wildflower#collier preserve tn
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#biennial#red flowers#upright form#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#native garden#tall#native wildflower#wildflower#collier preserve tn
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ipomopsis
    Species:
    rubra
    Family:
    Polemoniaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Wildflowers
    Life Cycle:
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern United States
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts hummingbirds
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer tolerant, Drought tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Two-section capsule containing shiny black seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The terminal panicle of tubular red flowers that have 5 flared petals. The inside of the flowers is marked with orange or yellowish spots.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Finely divided compound leaves have a feathery appearance and are up to 1 inch long. Starts out as a rosette the first year the sends up a leafy stalk the second year and has a similar look to fennel until it blooms
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought