# Spiked Ipomopsis (*ipomopsis spicata*)

The Spiked Ipomopsis is a colorful flower that loves to bloom in sunny places! Its tall spikes are covered in bright pink or purple blooms that attract many pollinators.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Rocky slopes and dry grasslands
- **Also known as:** Ipomopsis, Spike Flower, Summer Bloom

![Spiked Ipomopsis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ipomopsis_spicata.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ipomopsis_spicata.jpg)

## Appearance

The Spiked Ipomopsis is a slender plant often topped with dense, spike-like clusters of many tiny, usually white to cream-colored flowers. Its narrow, sometimes hairy leaves are deeply divided, giving it a delicate, feathery appearance, setting it apart from broader-leafed desert plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ericales
- **Family:** Polemoniaceae
- **Genus:** Ipomopsis

## Interesting facts

- Its 'spiked' name comes from how its tiny flowers stack up like a fuzzy tower!
- Its seeds might wait for years, only sprouting after a wildfire clears the way!
- Some tiny bees called Sweat Bees love its nectar, helping it make seeds!
- This plant can grow in very dry places where most others can't survive!

## Special abilities

- **Deep Water Seeker:** Spiked Ipomopsis has a tenacious taproot that helps it find deep water, allowing it to thrive in dry, rocky soils.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Its densely packed, often light-colored flowers act as a bright beacon, attracting busy bees and butterflies to help with pollination.
- **Drought Defender:** Spiked Ipomopsis can often survive long dry spells by going dormant, preserving energy until water returns to its habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 10-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus mixtus*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers
- **Pollinates:** Small White Butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — sips nectar from the numerous small blooms
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on the leaves and stems occasionally
- **Eaten by:** Long-tailed Vole (*Microtus longicaudus*) — may nibble on plant parts or seeds

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Spiked Ipomopsis?

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 Spiked Ipomopsis?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Spiked Ipomopsis spread?

10-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Spiked Ipomopsis?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Spiked Ipomopsis bloom?

Summer

### Is Spiked Ipomopsis edible?

No

### Is Spiked Ipomopsis toxic?

None

### What is Spiked Ipomopsis's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-breaks-national-monument) — Utah, US · National Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Spiked Ipomopsis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spiked-ipomopsis)