# Scarlet Gilia (*Ipomopsis aggregata*) The Scarlet Gilia is a beautiful red flower that blooms in the summer. It attracts hummingbirds with its bright color and sweet nectar, making it a favorite in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Red Gilia, Skyrocket Gilia ![Scarlet Gilia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ipomopsis_aggregata_5908.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ipomopsis_aggregata_5908.JPG) ## Appearance The Scarlet Gilia has vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically brilliant scarlet or orange-red, clustered atop a tall, slender stem. Its finely divided, fern-like leaves distinguish it from other red wildflowers in rocky areas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Ipomopsis ## Interesting facts - Its long, tube-shaped flowers perfectly fit a hummingbird's beak like a straw! - Some Scarlet Gilia flowers open at dusk to attract night-flying hawk moths! - The tiny seeds of this plant can lie dormant in the soil for a very long time! - This plant often acts like a biennial, living two years before dying after seeding. ## Special abilities - **Hummingbird Beacon:** Scarlet Gilia's bright red, tubular flowers act as a perfect target, drawing hummingbirds to nectar. - **High-Altitude Thrive:** Scarlet Gilia can survive and flourish in dry, rocky, high-altitude environments where many plants struggle. - **Night Moth Whisperer:** Some varieties open flowers at dusk, attracting hawk moths with their unique evening scent for pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Black-chinned Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-chinned-hummingbird) (*Archilochus alexandri*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — a key pollinator species - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — visits flowers at night - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses leaves and flowers - **Eaten by:** [Black-tailed Jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — may graze on foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look at flowers from a distance and don't pick them, so they can keep growing! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Scarlet Gilia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Scarlet Gilia? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Scarlet Gilia spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Scarlet Gilia? 2-4 cm ### When does Scarlet Gilia bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is Scarlet Gilia edible? No ### Is Scarlet Gilia toxic? None ### What is Scarlet Gilia's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District [View all places to see Scarlet Gilia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/scarlet-gilia) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Scarlet Gilia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scarlet-gilia)