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

Flower profile

Scarlet gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata

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 May–September.

13states
6of our state lists
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–November. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,919 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #19 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,028 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #12 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,860 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #93 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

Scarlet gilia gift ideas

Handmade scarlet gilia gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,297 records)
Bloom time in each of our 6 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August4,919
UtahNativeMay–November2,028
OregonNativeJune–September1,860
New MexicoNativeJune–October1,827
IdahoNativeJune–August1,200
WyomingNativeJune–September1,110

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.

More Colorado flowers

Grand collomia (Collomia grandiflora)

Grand collomia

Collomia grandiflora

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🌼 Blooms: May–July
Longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia)

Longleaf phlox

Phlox longifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms: March–June
Spiny phlox (Phlox hoodii)

Spiny phlox

Phlox hoodii

Native

🌼 Blooms: March–June

Sources