Bloomipedia
Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)
Photo: Timon T. K. via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Scarlet gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata

Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata) is a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Scarlet gilia is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

13states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
19,866U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Ipomopsis aggregata is a species of biennial flowering plant in the phlox family, Polemoniaceae, commonly known as scarlet skyrocket, scarlet gilia, or skyrocket.

  • It belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 13 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Utah, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,919 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #19 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,028 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #12 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,860 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #94 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,297 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August4,919
UtahNativeMay–September2,028
OregonNativeJune–August1,860
New MexicoNativeJuly–September1,827
IdahoNativeJune–August1,200
WyomingNativeJune–August1,110

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records scarlet gilia in 13 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Ouray, Park, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Summit, Teller.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 248 counties across 12 states; the most are in Colorado (44), Idaho (31), California (29).

Other Ipomopsis on Bloomipedia (1): Flaxflowered ipomopsis.

More from the Polemoniaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Blue phlox, Fall phlox, Jacob's ladder, Prairie phlox, Grand collomia, Longleaf phlox, Spiny phlox, Narrow-leaf mountain trumpet.

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Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

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Sources