General: Arizona Skyrocket (Ipomopsis arizonica) is a small, low-growing herb with long, trumpet-shaped red flowers that have pointed petals.

Arizona Skyrocket generally is an uncommon component of montane vegetation communities on dry limestone hillsides in the Hudsonian (Bristlecone Forest) and Arctic (Alpine Tundra) Life Zones, although it can be abundant when found.

Family: Phlox (Polemoniaceae).

Other Names: Scarlet Gilia.

Plant Form: Low-growing perennial forb with showy, red flowers.

Height: To about 8 inches.

Stems: Short, branching near the base.

Leaves: Basal, compound with 7 to 11 linear lobes, hairy.

Flowers: Blooms during summer. Inflorescence 1-sided; 5 to 10 flowers per stem. Flower: red, long narrow tube (to about 1 inch) with flared petal lobes.

Seeds: Fruit: capsule.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained gravelly and rocky limestone soils on steep slopes in the upper mountains.

Elevation: 5,000 to 10,000 feet.

Distribution: Southern California to northwestern Arizona.

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