Grow Native by Lynn M. Steiner

Author:Lynn M. Steiner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Published: 2016-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

Gaillardia aristata

Blanket Flower

Zones: 3 to 9

Size: 2 to 3 feet tall

Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Arizona Sun’

Blanket flowers are among the showiest of native prairie flowers, the reason behind their increased popularity in recent years. The descriptive common names, which also include firewheel and Indian blanket, come from the flowers’ resemblance to brightly colored blankets made by Native Americans. The perennial Gaillardia aristata has 2- to 4-inch, golden yellow, daisylike ray petals with a narrow band of burgundy at the base where they join the dark red disk flowers. It starts blooming midsummer and continues into early fall. The gray-green leaves are hairy and lobed or egg-shaped and appear in leafy clumps that will continue to increase in size but never become aggressive.

Pollinator & Wildlife Value: Flowers are pollinated by soft-winged flower beetles, honeybees, and leaf-cutting bees. Hummingbirds and butterflies seek nectar. Butterfly visitors include Edwards’ fritillary and Dakota skipper. Goldfinches and other songbirds eat the seeds.

How to Use: Blanket flower is a good addition to sunny perennial borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, and xeriscaped yards. It can be used as a cut flower, and the compact-growing hybrids adapt well to container use. Set off the showy bicolor blooms by planting blanket flower with single-colored summer bloomers such as Mexican hat, butterfly milkweed, harebell, and monarda.

How to Grow & Maintain: It needs well-drained soil and full sun. It is drought, salt, and heat tolerant. Deadheading is not necessary but will tidy up plants and may encourage additional bloom; stop in late summer so you’ll have some of its attractive seedheads going into winter. Plants may need support of some sort. Plants can be cut back midsummer to encourage a fall bloom. There are no serious pest problems. Plants may get powdery mildew if conditions are right, and aster yellows can be a problem. Deer and rabbits avoid it.

Beyond the Species: Indian blanket (G. pulchella) is an attractive annual species native in more southerly and westerly prairies. Flower color is highly variable in any population, ranging from shades of yellows to reds to purples with some bicolor. Plants grow about 2 feet tall. It grows in dry, lean soils and will reseed and naturalize. Hybrid blanket flower (G. x grandiflora) is a showy cross between G. aristata and G. pulchella. The resulting floriferous hybrids have orange and yellow flowers, often with dark red bands or eyes. Plants are showy but often short-lived perennials that are good choices for containers and any type of garden. ‘Arizona Sun’ only grows about a foot tall and has large orange-red blossoms edged in yellow. There are an abundance of cultivars available, with more being added each year. ‘Burgundy’ has large wine-red flowers. ‘Dazzler’ has golden yellow flowers with maroon centers. ‘Goblin’ is a 12-inch plant with red-centered flowers with yellow edges. Zones 4 to 9.

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