Scarlet Gilia

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

Scarlet skyrockets are herbaceous plants that grow a flowering stem that is typically 20 to 100 centimeters (8–39 in) tall.^[4] They have characteristic red, trumpet-shaped flowers and basal leaves stemming from a single erect stem. Trumpet flowers can range from white, red, orange-red, and pink.^[5] Pink flowers are especially common in high mesa areas of Colorado, such as the Flat Tops, Grand Mesa, or the Uncompahgre Plateau. Yellow flowers have been reported for plant but are extremely rare. Fernlike leaves are low to the ground, helping encourage warmth in colder areas, and have silver specks and a fine white pubescence. A well-known delicacy in nature, I. aggregata is well adapted to herbivory, as it can regrow multiple flowering stalks once lost. Although herbivory initially reduces seed and fruit count of the plant, intermediate herbivory and its stimulating factors could lead to the plant growing larger over time.