[Collomias and Mountain Trumpets: The Genus Collomia West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet

Collomia grandiflora

Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet: Collomia grandiflora


Close-up of a flower of Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet: Collomia grandifloraThe photo at right shows a close-up of the salmon-colored flower of large flowered collomia as seen at about 4100' at a DNR rock quarry atop the ridge dividing the Cougar and Dairy Creek drainages at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams..........July 10, 2005. Note the bluish anthers and the stigma which is divided into 4 spreading lobes.
Characteristics:

Large-flowered Collomia is a tall, slender annual which arises from 30-80 cm high. Most of these wildflowers are single stemmed, but occasionally one with several stems may occur. The herbage of the stems and leaves varies from nearly glabrous to fairly densely covered with short, matted or tangled, soft, wooly hairs. It has a dense terminal cluster of trumpet-like flowers.

The leaves are narrow, linear to narrowly lanceolate with entire margins, and may be as long as 4-8 cm long. The thick leaves are a dull, pale green and all are found on the stems.

The glandular inflorescence is congested and subtended by a number of large, leafy bracts. Typically, only several blossoms are in bloom at the same time, but occasionaly many will bloom at the same time which makes the plant quite attractive. The glandular calyx is narrowly bell-shaped and ranges from 6-8 mm long. The corollas are trumpet-shaped with the lobes shorter than the tube. The tube is white to cream or salmon-colored while the lobes range from salmon, flesh-colored or a pale yellow-cream . The tiny blue stamens extend to just past the mouth of the tube as does the style with its 4-lobed stigma.

This is an pretty annual wildflower for the dry wild garden and a number of nurseries and botanical gardens now offer it for sale. Be aware that it self-seeds readily and in moister habits will grow to its maximum height in denses clusters, where it will shade out smaller plants, so west of the Cascades consider it for pots or the back of the flower border where lower plants will be less impacted. In addition, clip out the drying inflorescences to collect the seeds (and prevent seed drop where you don't want them!).


Habitat:

Large-flowered Collomia is found in dry open or lightly wooded places, from low to moderate elevations.


Range:

Large-flowered Collomia is found from southern British Columbia south on both sides of the Cascade Mts to California, and hence eastward as far as western Montana, Wyoming and south to Arizona.

It may be found throughout the Columbia River Gorge between the elevations of 100'-3900'.


Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet: Collomia grandiflora

Large-flowered collomia observed along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 on the southwest flanks of Mount Ashland, Klamath National Forest, Jackson County, OR......July 22, 2021.

Close-up of the inflorescence of Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet: Collomia grandiflora

The photo above shows a close side-view of the flower head of large-flowered collomia as seen at about 3650' at the end of forest road #170 on the southwestern flanks of King Mt., several miles southeast of Mt. Adams itself.........July 17, 2005.

Grand Collomia, Large-flowered Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet: Collomia grandiflora


Paul Slichter