Gaillardia, commonly referred to as blanket flower, is a short-lived perennial with vibrant, daisy-like blossoms that is simple to grow. The common name of the plant, which refers to how it can gradually grow and “blanket” an area, may be an allusion to how it produces a gently spreading mound. The plants stretch out to a maximum height of 20 inches and a maximum width of 24 inches. The blanket flower grows quickly. Plants bought from nurseries are often prepared to bloom in your yard, unlike plants grown from seed, which will blossom in their second year. Throughout the warm season, this perennial garden staple produces a profusion of huge, spectacular flowers in hues of red and yellow.
Usually planted from nursery starts, these short-lived perennials can also be grown from seeds sown directly in the garden after the last frost date (or started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks early). Be aware that people may be mildly poisonous to blanket flower.
The name “blanket flower” has a reason.
The heat-tolerant and heavy-blooming blanket flower is a nice addition to the informal garden because of its brilliantly colored daisy-like blossoms in hues of red, orange, and yellow. Gaillardia is a genus of annual, biennial, and perennial plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) that are all indigenous to the Americas. It has roughly 25–30 species. The common name “blanket flower” may have originated from several factors, including the flowers’ resemblance to vividly colored Native American blankets with similar patterns, wild species’ capacity to completely cover the ground in color, or even a Native American weaver whose grave was supposedly always covered in blooming flowers as brilliantly colored as the blankets he had created.
The French naturalist Antoine Rene Gaillard de Charentoneau was honored with the genus name. The annual G. pulchella (= G. drummondi, G. bicolor), native to the southeastern United States, Colorado, and south into Mexico, was the first species to be named in 1788. It has 2-inch red flowers with yellow tips. The short-lived, considerably larger-flowered perennial G. aristata, which has varied, fringed blooms in reds and yellows, was gathered by Lewis and Clark in Montana in 1806. The most popular variety of blanket flower grown in gardens, Gaillardia x grandiflora, was created in 1857 by the hybridization of these two species in a Belgian garden. Large flowers, a perennial habit, strong heat, drought, and poor soil tolerance, as well as winter hardiness, are all strengths of this hybrid. They do, however, tend to be perennials that have relatively brief lives while being more robust than the species.
All Gaillardia species’ flowers have a number of small core disc flowers that are surrounded by 15 or more sterile ray flowers (although a few species lack ray flowers). The ray flowers typically have three-toothed, long, flat petals, but in rare species, they can be rolled up like trumpets.
Each flower head may be single or double, with a traditional daisy shape or with a central disc of trumpet-shaped, five-petaled blooms. The color of the ray flowers’ bands varies, usually with the outer half being yellow and the center being red, orange, or maroon. In other forms, the flower head may be entirely one color or it may have solid-colored rays with a central disc of a different color. On stems held slightly above the foliage, the individual 2-4″ flowerheads are created.
With the summer and fall, the mounding or gently sprawling plants are adorned in flowers that butterflies and local bees like visiting. Cut flowers from the taller cultivars are attractive. The blossoms mature into a spherical, fuzzy-looking head that contains seeds that can either fall to the ground and self-sow or be eaten by birds, mainly goldfinches.
These plants often have large, velvety, hairy, strap-shaped, alternating, gray-green leaves. All three edge types—smooth, toothed, and lobed—can appear on the same plant. Gloves should be worn when handling the plants since the leaves contain substances (lactones) that can induce contact dermatitis in those who are susceptible.
The majority of gardeners plant some type of Gaillardia x grandiflora, even though the species is suitable for dry prairie or meadow gardens, will naturalize under the right circumstances, and may be included in wildflower seed mixes.
These bring color to cottage gardens, perennial borders, mixed beds, and flowerbeds. Masses of the compact cultivars look great at the front of borders. They are suitable for use in containers, either by themselves or in combination with other plants that can withstand dry circumstances. To temper the blanket flower’s vibrant colors, mix it with decorative grasses and sprinkle in plants with gray or blue leaves. When combined with blue or purple flowering plants, they can look magnificent. Their texture contrasts wonderfully with the delicate yarrow leaf or the strappy daylily foliage. They combine well with other native North American plants like Liatris and Rudbeckia and provide an abundance of daisy-like blossoms when combined with coreopsis, sunflowers, and purple coneflower.
Gaillardias of all varieties can be grown in full sun with sandy, quick-draining soil. They must be cultivated on berms or in containers if you don’t have any lighter soil because they rarely survive the winter there. In addition to needing great drainage, they also tend to have a short lifespan (Gaillardia x grandiflora has an average lifespan of two years). This is because they bloom so profusely and soon exhaust themselves. Although deadheading is not required, it will help the plants live longer by preventing them from using energy to produce seeds. It could lead to more flowers and keep the plant looking neater. In late July, pruning the plants back to 6 inches may improve their chances of surviving the winter. In extremely cold winters, plants benefit from mulching (or snow cover), but the majority will live to -20 F without crown protection (as long as drainage is good). They are drought-tolerant once planted and don’t need a lot of fertilizer. These plants don’t have many pest issues, although they can get powdery mildew and aster yellows. Normally, deer and rabbits stay away from blanket flower.
The plant and some of its hybrids can be easily grown from seed and frequently self-seed. Spread the seed of annual plants where you want them to grow because they need light to germinate; however, label the location so you will know where to look for them and won’t unintentionally pick them out. The seedlings of annual plants resemble young dandelion greens. Start annual varieties indoors 4-6 weeks before the typical final frost and perennial types 6-8 weeks earlier (they typically take 4-5 months from sowing to flowering). Just after the last frost, transplant annuals outside; perennials should be planted a little later. Named variants are spread by division or basal cuttings. If the plants are still alive after 2-3 years, divide them in the spring or early fall to increase vitality. varieties and species Aristat Gaillardia
This sturdy perennial with huge flowers is endemic to North American prairies and the Rocky Mountains. It has yellow rays that are frequently red-orange at the base, and the central disc is typically red-orange as well. Zones 3-10. Several of the more popular varieties are:
- ‘Amber Wheels’ has amber-red centers and fringed yellow ray blooms.
- Yellow rays and a deeper yellow disc make up “Maxima Aurea.” Its height and width each reach nearly 20 inches.
- With 3- to 4-inch flowers that range in color from pure yellow to bright red with yellow tips and a dark center (‘Scarlet Halo’), the Sunrita series is more compact (18 inches tall).
This annual plant, which can reach heights of three feet, has a profusion of tiny all-red, all-yellow, or red-tipped yellow ray blooms with dark purple disc florets. Plants typically start blooming three months after they are sown. Without support, the species is prone to flopping, however named variations are typically less rangy.
- With intriguing mixtures of yellow, red, and orange blossoms, “Lollipop” reaches a height of 18 inches.
- AAS winner “Red Plume” (1991) has double flowers on plants that are 112 to 18 inches tall. Similar is “Yellow Plume,” although it has just yellow flowers.
Breeders are creating more compact cultivars as well as blooms in single colors, tubular ray flowers, and double flowers. This hybrid of the two aforementioned species can grow up to 3 feet tall (but tends to flop, so those tall types need support). There are many varieties, and new ones are always being introduced. Zones 3–10, however hardiness varies per variety. Among the most widespread cultivars, the following are only a few examples:
- Two All-America Selections winners are part of the Arizona series, which is 12 inches tall and has flat rays. Arizona Apricot (2011) has soft-orange flowers with yellow tips and a yellow center, in contrast to Arizona Sun (2005), which has vivid yellow endings on the red ray flowers and a red core. Rose-colored crimson rays with yellow cores make up “Arizona Red Shades.” Compared to many other varieties, they bloom earlier. Zones 3-9.
- On 24–30 plants, ‘Burgundy’ (= ‘Burgunder’) features rich wine-red ray blooms that become softer in hue with age and a yellow center that matures into a dark crimson color. It dependably self-sowls and thrives in zones 3 through 9.
What do shawl flowers represent?
My wildflower garden is coming to an end now that the nights are getting cold. I’ve observed it vary over the year as various species took turns stealing the show with changes in colors, forms, and even odors. Some blossoms lasted weeks, others only a few days. But one species remained constant throughout time and produced copious amounts of blooms from early spring to late October. In fact, it’s still blooming here in the middle of October. This year, Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella), a native annual that self-seeds, was the highlight of my wildflower garden. Its appeal to pollinating insects was also noted. Sometimes you could see two or more honeybees foraging excitedly on a single blossom. A lot of time was also spent by butterflies, bumblebees, and native bees around the firewheel. It’s understandable that firewheel has become one of the most widely planted wildflowers in North America, given its past steeped in legend and enormous appeal among modern gardeners.
How Firewheel Got its Color
Native American lore has a long connection with Firewheel. An ancient Mexican tradition describes how the firewheel gained its distinctive hue in the book “Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers” by Elizabeth Silverthorne. Firewheel was originally a completely yellow wildflower during the time of the Aztecs, so the legend goes. Children played amid the beautiful yellow flowers in the meadows as women adorned themselves with them. Then Cortez arrived, leaving death and destruction in his wake. The vivid yellow flower took in the residents’ blood as it dropped out of compassion for their deaths. The firewheel is still stained red from the Aztecs’ blood today.
Indian Blanket Flower
Another mythology gives rise to the term “Indian blanket flower,” which is another name for “firewheel.” The same book tells the tale of braves from a particular tribe who went to battle while abandoning their wives and kids. The chief’s wife soon started weaving a blanket for her husband. She woven strands of red and orange into the blanket, each pattern representing her request to the Great Spirit to protect her spouse. The chief’s daughter got missing while playing in the woods one day. As soon as it started to become dark, the young girl prayed to the Great Spirit for a blanket to keep her warm. She dozed off. The following morning, she discovered that she was covered in flowers that matched the blanket in red and orange. When her father got home from the war, he discovered his daughter covered in the lovely flowers. The blossoms gained the name “Indian blanket flower” after that point.
Easy to Grow, Easy to Maintain
I can attest that one of the simplest wildflowers to grow is firewheel. It can withstand drought and poor soil conditions and does well in high temperatures. In the wild, roadsides, fence lines, and meadows are frequently where you’ll encounter firewheel growing. Although Firewheel is indigenous to the Southwest and the Great Plains, it has spread to many other locations. Despite being an annual, firewheel is a prodigious self-seeder and will reappear year after year on its own.
How to Grow Firewheel
Plant the seed in a location with full or partial sun in the late fall or early spring to establish firewheel. Ensure that the area is well drained. Before sowing, rake the area to achieve optimal seed-to-soil contact. Keep it damp but not drenched. In around 1-2 weeks, firewheel should germinate with sufficient rainfall. It is simple to gather firewheel seeds for other locations as well. Although this wildflower needs very little upkeep, it could benefit from periodic deadheading throughout the season to maintain its peak blooming. The greatest plant for “plant and forget about it” gardeners is firewheel, though.
What is the lifespan of blanket flowers?
The best thing about blanket flowers is this. Gardening friends, hold on to your socks because this is quite easy and basic.
In the late fall, prune your Gaillardia down to a height of approximately six inches, and then remove the dead growth.
The seed heads are lovely in and of themselves, and the local wildlife appears to like eating them, so you don’t have to deadhead the flowers throughout the growing season.
Individual plants often live for two to three years before passing away.
At the two-year mark, split them to spare yourself some pain. You’ll benefit from the offer by receiving two plants and extending their lifespan.
The willingness of blanket flowers to move and spread outside of their initial zone is the only potential source of discomfort you might experience.
As a self-seeder, there will be many seeds, which will result in many flowers. You’ll need to pick out stray flowers a few times over the growing season if you want to keep things neat.
What Kind of Pests and Diseases Should I Watch Out For?
Gaillardia exhibits remarkable resistance to pests and illnesses. Deer and rabbits typically aren’t a problem because the majority of wildlife prefers to disregard these. There are also not many insects that directly cause problems.
Powdery mildew, aster yellows, and fungal leaf spot are the main problems that gardeners will face with blanket flowers.
With careful watering and the administration of antifungal sprays as necessary, powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot can be handled, but aster yellows is a disease that necessitates the immediate destruction of the affected plant.
Aphids and leafhoppers, which are not harmful to blanket flowers but are capable of carrying this deadly illness, spread it.
To identify aster yellows, look for green-colored, stunted flowers. To stop this infection from spreading, you must remove infected plants from your garden and throw them away. Infected plant waste should not be added to your compost pile.
Companion Plantings
Blanket flowers work well with echinacea, black-eyed Susans, salvia, sedum, herbs, and shrubs like juniper and heather because they both like the same circumstances. Some heuchera species make excellent choices as well!
When it comes to annuals, think about using colorful and eye-catching blooms like marigolds and lantana to complement your blanket flowers. You can also use darker hues like Persian shield, annual salvia, and some varieties of vinca flowers to add contrast.