Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Characteristics

Culture

Blanketflower is typically native to hot and dry climates, like tough prairies and rocky plains. These plants are well adapted to poor soils and severe drought. Because of this, they require very little supplemental watering in landscapes and are great for water wise gardens and gardens with poor, dry soils. Blanket flowers also need as much sun as you can give them. Occasional watering will extend the blooming period. In any shade, plants will flower poorly and become stretched and floppy. There is also a higher risk for threats like powdery mildew in shade.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Gaillardia aristata is a species of blanket flower that is native from North Dakota to Colorado west to California and British Columbia. It typically grows in clumps to 30” tall and is found primarily in dry sites on meadows, prairies, grasslands, mountain foothills and at lower mountain elevations to 9000’. Blanketflower features orange-red daisy-like flowers to 3” diameter with yellow tipped rays. Blooms late spring to fall. Lance-shaped gray-green leaves may be pinnately lobed near the base of the plant. Flowers are attractive to butterflies. In areas where goldfinches are present, gardeners should consider leaving some spent flower heads for the birds. Gaillardia is sometimes commonly called Blanketflower in probable reference to the resemblance of its rich and warm flower colors and patterns to blankets woven by Native Americans.

Problems

Root rot may occur in poorly drained soils, particularly during periods of protracted heavy summer rains. Species plants are generally susceptible to powdery mildew, aster yellows and fungal leaf spot diseases.

Garden Uses

Perennial border fronts, rock gardens, cottage gardens and cutting gardens. Also effective in containers. With such an extensive bloom time, few other perennials can rival what blanket flower brings to the garden. On top of their visual appeal, the bright, cheery blossoms of Blanketflower are a wonderful food source for pollinators. Come fall, small birds also love to pick seeds off of spent blooms. Once flowering begins in early summer, blanket flowers won’t stop until frost. They may go through a lull, but you can keep things going by removing old, spent bloom-this is especially important come fall.  If you leave some of the old blossoms on the plants into the fall and winter, goldfinches and other small birds will happily feast on the seeds.