by Lydia Holley June 24, 2024
Over the past few weeks, roadsides have been blanketed with patches of red flowers. These are Gaillardia pulchella, commonly called Blanket Flower, Indian Blanket, or Firewheel.
As you can tell, blanket flower is easy to grow and although it is considered an annual, it will multiply by seed so you can enjoy an abundance of these flowers if you so choose. Blanket flower prefers full sun but will tolerate almost any type of soil. However, it may suffer in heavy clay as drainage is a must. It is tolerant of heat and drought. Deer and rabbits seem to avoid it.
Butterflies are attracted to its bright blooms. To enjoy blooms for as long as possible, consider dead-heading its blooms and water it during times of drought. Or bring in some blooms to enjoy inside. It makes a long-lasting cut flower.
To enjoy blanket flower next year, put out seeds in the fall. The following year, let them reseed or collect seeds from plants to put where you want them. After the petals drop, a fuzzy seed head is left. Consider leaving some seed for the birds. Goldfinches especially love blanket flower seed.
If you are looking for a blanket flower with a specific color, consider purchasing some of the hybrids. Gaillardia x grandiflora is a hybrid between G. pulchella and G. aristata, lanceleaf blanket flower. G. grandiflora is taller and has been hybridized to include single color cultivars, flowers with tubular petals, and even double flowers. Hybrids may be marketed as perennial, but do not expect most of them to last longer than two years.
Blanket flower will look nice in cottage gardens, meadow plantings, rock gardens, or as an edging plant. Although along the roads you may mostly see blanket flower growing with black-eyed Susans, blanket flower will look beautiful next to a variety of companion plantings. Consider growing blanket flower with coneflowers, lantana, liatris, ornamental grasses, or yarrow. Enjoy blanket flower as an accent plant or let it naturally blanket large areas. It will warm your heart to see beautiful butterflies on its bright blooms.
For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].
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