Bloomipedia
Flaxflowered ipomopsis (Ipomopsis longiflora)
Photo: Dominic Gentilcore via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Flaxflowered ipomopsis

Ipomopsis longiflora

Native to New Mexico

Flaxflowered ipomopsis is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Mexico it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.

10states
1,099NM sightings*
2,038U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: New Mexico

Quick look

Ipomopsis longiflora, commonly known as flaxflowered gilia or flaxflowered ipomopsis, is a plant species. The Zuni people utilize the dried, powdered flowers and water of I. longiflora subsp. longiflora to prepare a poultice for removing hair from newborns and children.

  • It belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. NatureServe
  • In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,099 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #41 among the 109 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

Flaxflowered ipomopsis gift ideas

Handmade flaxflowered ipomopsis gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

In New Mexico, most flowering sightings come in April–September.

Flowering records by month in New Mexico (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (77 records)

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
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
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: SD (S2), WY (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 flaxflowered ipomopsis in 10 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Valencia.

More New Mexico flowers

Sources