| IDENTIFICATION |
| Common Name: |
FAIRY TRUMPET |
| Other Common Names: |
skyrocket, scarlet gilia (red form), white gilia |
| Scientific Name: |
Ipomopsis aggregata |
| Derivation: |
aggregata - clustered, referring to the flowers. |
| Synonyms: |
Gilia aggregata |
| Family: |
Phlox - Polemoniaceae |
| Family Characteristics: |
showy, radially symmetrical flowers (can be divided in half any way to produce mirror images) often tubular with 5 flaring lobes; styles (connects stigma to the ovary) 1 with 3 stigmas (pollen-receiving part of the female organ). |
| Species Characteristics: |
ovary with 3 locules (compartments); corolla (petals) salverform (with a long narrow tube opening into a wider cup i.e. trumpet-shaped). |
| Mature Height: |
to 5 feet. |
| Mature Spread: |
12 to 18 inches. |
| Flower Color: |
red/pink/salmon/white. |
| Petal Number: |
5 |
| Flower Symmetry: |
radial |
| Fruit Type: |
capsule (dry, multi-chambered fruit splitting at maturity). |
| Leaf Type: |
compound (divided into 2 or more similar parts). |
| ECOLOGY |
| Frequency: |
common |
| Growth Form: |
herbaceous |
| Life Cycle: |
biennial |
| Class: |
angiosperm (plant with covered seed). |
| SubClass: |
dicot (plants with two seed leaves and netted leaf veins). |
| Season of Bloom: |
spring (Mar. - May). |
| Life Zone: |
foothills/montane. |
| Habitat: |
gravelly open areas. |
| Eco. Relationships: |
subsp. aggregata found on the western slope; seeds utilized by birds, flowers and foliage by small mammals and grazers; adapted to pollination by hummingbirds; hummingbirds, like most birds, can see the color red and the red flowers of this species are an indicator of hummingbird pollination; the long tube and red color prevent many insects from feeding at the flower because their tongues are too short and they can not see the color red; fairy trumpet has evolved to flower sequentially after Nelson's larkspur, another hummingbird pollinated flower; this plant is also pollinated by bumblebees and native bees. |
| WEED MANAGEMENT |
| Origin: |
native |
| LANDSCAPING |
| Availability: |
less available. |
| Landscaping Use: |
xeriscape perennial bed, naturalized areas, mass plantings, wildflower meadow, dry garden. |
| Moisture Requirement: |
moist to begin then dry. |
| Light Requirement: |
full sun. |
| Soil Requirement: |
sandy, dry, well-drained, pH 7.0 to 8.5, tolerates low fertility. |
| HUMAN CONNECTIONS |
| Toxicity: |
reported to be poisonous, but sheep eat the plant without illness. |
| Other Uses: |
Native American medicinal and ceremonial use. |
Version: 2.4.1 Release Date: June 2010 ©2010 Jefferson County ITS
