Ipomopsis rubra border

Plant of the Month November 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION: November brings many seed lists for us to peruse and to select desirable offerings. I was intrigued by the description of Ipomopsis rubra many years ago. Would it be hardly? A Texan plant? It has self-seeded nearly every year, only deterred by shade and a wet March. The fist-sized rosettes are attractive additions to the rock garden during the first year. Tall flowering spikes attract many pollinators, especially hummingbirds.

Synonym: Gilia rubra.

Common Name: Standing cypress, scarlet gilia, Texas plume and flame flower.

Variants: Yellow flowered form.

Life Cycle: Herbaceous biennial. May last to another season in the south if dead-headed.

Height: To 150 cm high, 30 cm wide, in 2nd year.

Ipomopsis rubra

Ipomopsis rubra in Rock Garden.

Leaves: Mid-green compound pinnate leaves up to 2.5 cm long, with very narrow leaflets. Forms a ferny fist-sized rosette the first year. The 2nd year flowering stalk is leafy.

Ipomopsis rubra 1st year 

Ipomopsis rubra -Seedlings showing leaf structure.

Bloom Time: July - September. 

Flower Colour & Size: A thick spike of many scarlet tubular flowers, 2 cm long, opening to a 5-petaled star. The centre is whitish, dotted with red.

 Ipomopsis rubra flowers
Fruit: 2- partitioned capsule containing black seeds.

 

Ipomopsis rubra close

Ipomopsis rubra - flowers

 

Ipomopsis capsules

Ipomopsis rubra - capsules.

Range: Native to SE USA.

Habitat:  Dry, sandy or rocky fields or open woodland.

CULTIVATION: 

Plant: Scatter seeds in situ in fall or start indoors. Their height requires careful siting.

Light: Full sun, will not grow as well in light shade.

Soil: Most soils.

Water: Dry to medium moisture. Must be well drained. 

USDA Hardiness: Zones 5-9.

Companion planting: Other rock garden plants.

Propagation: Self seeds in garden. Indoors from seed: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months. Dislikes transplanting.

 Ipomopsis rubra seedlings

Ipomopsis rubra  - seedlings.

Pest and Diseases: Nothing serious.

Pollinators: Hummingbirds.

References:

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomopsis-rubra/

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/ipomopsis-rubra

https://onrockgarden.com/index.php/germination-guide/germination-guide

 

Text and images supplied by Anna Leggatt (Toronto Master Gardener)