Bring a vertical explosion of scarlet to your garden with Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra), a show-stopping native also known as Texas Plume, Flame Flower, or Spanish Larkspur. This dramatic, upright biennial is a member of the phlox family and is famous for its towering, unbranched stems that can reach heights of 2 to 6 feet. Topped with thick, spike-like clusters of tubular red flowers that flare into five-lobed stars, this plant serves as a vibrant beacon for hummingbirds throughout the summer.
In its first year, Standing Cypress produces a low-growing, feathery basal rosette of fine, fern-like foliage. In the second year, it sends up its magnificent flowering spike, blooming from the top downward. Because it freely self-seeds, once established, it will remain a permanent and spectacular resident of your cottage garden or informal meadow.
Key Features:
- Hummingbird Magnet: The bright red, tubular flowers are specifically shaped to attract hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators.
- Striking Floral Display: Features scarlet-red blossoms on the outside with orange or yellowish spots on the inside for a complex, showy appearance.
- Unique Foliage: Clad in finely divided, pinnate leaves with thread-like segments that provide a soft, feathery texture.
- Dramatic Verticality: Stiff, narrow stems create a bold architectural statement in any landscape.
- Drought Tolerant & Resilient: Naturally adapted to dry, sandy, or rocky fields and open woods.
- Deer Resistant: A hardy choice for areas with high deer pressure.
- Pollinator-Safe: Grown non-GMO and free of harmful neonicotinoids, promoting a healthy ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife.
Available in sets of three, six, or 12 plants to create a vibrant, towering focal point in your garden.
Why Choose Standing Cypress?
Standing Cypress is stunningly beautiful and surprisingly easy to cultivate in garden settings. While it is a biennial, its habit of self-seeding—much like hollyhocks or foxgloves—ensures that you will enjoy its dazzling and dramatic presence for many years. It is the perfect choice for adding height to the back of a border or for naturalizing in a sunny wildflower patch where its Texas plume can sway in the breeze.
Planting Tips:
- Location: Performs best in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Requires well-drained soil, ranging from gravelly and sandy to medium loam; it is not a fan of soggy feet.
- Watering: Thrives in dry to medium moisture conditions; once established, it is notably drought-tolerant.
- Maintenance: When the primary bloom stalk is finished, prune it off to encourage a replacement stalk to grow and flower, potentially forcing a second bloom.
- Establishment: Since these are biennials, they spend their first year as a green rosette before blooming in the second year. Allow plants to go to seed in the fall to ensure future generations.
For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center.
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