Standing Cypress
Ipomopsis rubra
Last reviewed: August 2026
Standing Cypress is a tall forb that blooms from June through August with red trumpet shaped flowers on a single spike. It thrives in full sun with low water once established and is a favorite stop for hummingbirds.
Toxicity unknown
Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–48" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states
Pollinators
hummingbirds, nectar insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Standing Cypress is a tall, slender wildflower that produces spectacular spikes of bright red tubular blooms during summer months. This drought-tolerant native grows as a biennial, forming a rosette of feathery foliage the first year before sending up its impressive flowering stalk the second year.
Growing Standing Cypress
Grow Standing Cypress in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Standing Cypress is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- May flop without support
- Best in less formal zones
Wildlife value
The tubular red flowers are magnets for hummingbirds and serve as an important nectar source during peak summer heat. Various nectar-seeking insects also visit the long-blooming flower spikes.
Common questions
- When does Standing Cypress bloom?
- Standing Cypress blooms from June through August, sending up a tall flower spike lined with red trumpet shaped blooms.
- What pollinators visit Standing Cypress?
- Hummingbirds are the main visitors, drawn to the narrow red tubular flowers, and various nectar seeking insects also feed on the blooms.
- How much sun does Standing Cypress need?
- It needs full sun for the strongest bloom and the sturdiest flower stalk.
- How much water does Standing Cypress need?
- It prefers low water and handles dry, well drained soil well once it is established.
- What does the growth habit of Standing Cypress look like?
- It forms a low rosette of finely divided leaves in its first season, then sends up a tall, narrow flowering stalk covered in red blooms the following year.
- Is Standing Cypress HOA-friendly?
- Standing Cypress is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Standing Cypress? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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