Gaillardia

( gay - LARD - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

These cheerful bloomers, also known as Blanket Flower, are native to North America and South America. These perennials and annuals thrive in heat, requiring full sun and moderate water to perform well in the landscape. They are easy to grow from seed, and will often reseed freely throughout the garden. They make beautiful cut flowers and can be used in mixed beds and borders, as pollinator plants near vegetable gardens, or as drought-tolerant additions to succulent or xeric gardens. Mass plant Blanket Flower for a dramatic effect on hillsides or as groundcover. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as the hairs on their stems and leaves can cause contact dermatitis.

Gaillardia Species and Varietals

The genus Gaillardia is a member of the plant family Asteraceae, and includes between 25 and 30 species. The genus is named for 18th-century French botanist and magistrate Maitre Gaillard de Charentonneau. Gaillardia grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-10, though this varies somewhat depending on the species cultivated. For more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Gaillardia aestivalis (Lanceleaf Blanketflower, Prairie Gaillardia, Sandhills Gaillardia, Smooth Headed Blanket Flower)
This perennial species, native to the south-central and southern United States, reaches a maximum height of 2 feet. Leaves are green and flowers are variable in color. Blooms can be purplish, yellowish, or whitish. Rare G. aestivalis var. winkleri is endemic to Texas and is commonly called Winkler's Blanketflower or White Fire-Wheel). This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.

Gaillardia amblyodon (Lanceleaf Blanketflower, Maroon Blanketflower, Blunt-Toothed Blanketflower, Red Indian Blanket)
This species is native to Texas (United States) where it grows in open spaces in sandy soils. Individual plants reach up to 18 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Flowers are red to purplish (rarely yellow) with yellow centers.

Gaillardia aristata (Common Blanketflower, Common Gaillardia)
This species grows to 2-2.5 feet tall and and 2 feet wide and is native to the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains regions of North America. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Flower heads are yellow and red. These plants are considered to be perennial wildflowers, and grow in many natural habitats such as plains, prairies and meadows. Cultivars include 'Amber Wheels' (with yellow, fringed petals) and 'Bijou' (a compact grower with red and yellow blooms). This species is considered invasive in Hungary and Russia.

Gaillardia coahuilensis (Bandanna Daisy, Bandana Daisy)
This species is native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Plants reach up to 8 inches tall and flowers bloom singly at the tips of stems. Rays are reddish orange with yellow fringed tips. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8a-10b.

Gaillardia x grandiflora (Hybrid Blanket Flower, Blanket Flower, Indian Blanket)
This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 and reaches up to 2-4 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Foliage is grey-green and double blooms or single flowers come in shades of red and yellow with orange or maroon banding. They bloom from summer through to the first frost of the year. This species will attract butterflies to the garden. Selections are outlined below.

'Arizona Sun'
To 10 inches tall; orange-red flowers with yellow tips.

'Goblin'
To 1 foot tall with deep red, yellow-bordered flowers.

'Goblin Yellow'
Yellow blooms on a 1 foot tall plant.

'Mesa Yellow'
Compact to 1.5 feet tall with solid yellow flowers that bloom early in the season.

'Oranges and Lemons'
Flowers with orange centers and yellow-tipped orange petals.

'Fanfare'
With burgundy centers and trumpet-shaped orange petals with yellow tips.

'Dazzler'
2 feet tall with bright red flowers that have yellow tips on petals.

'Frenzy'
Petals are tube-shaped and tipped with yellow.

'Mandarin'
Centers are mahogany with orange petals that are tipped in yellow.

'Tizzy'
2 feet tall with trumpet-shaped petals that are pink-orange.

'Amber Wheels'
Flower centers are red, and have golden-yellow frills. 2.5 feet tall.

'Burgunder'
Deep red flowers.

Gaillardia multiceps (Onion Blanketflower, Gyp Indian Blanket)
This perennial species is native to the southwestern United States and is known for growing in Gypseous soils (with high levels of calcium sulphate, or gypsum). This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. Flowers are golden yellow with brown centers and reach up to between 12 and 18 inches tall.

Gaillardia pinnatifida (Red Dome Blanketflower, Hopi Blanketflower, Slender Gaillardia, Cut-Leaf Blanketflower)
These wildflowers are native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, and reaches up to 22 inches tall when in bloom. Flowers are yellow with brown-orange centers, and leaves are green to green-grey. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.

Gaillardia pulchella (Firewhell, Indian Blanket, Indian Blanketflower, Sundance)
This annual gets to 2 feet tall and half as wide, with soft leaves and long stems that carry flowers in red, yellow, and gold. These are easy to grow and will attract birds to your garden. Varieties include 'Red Plume' (double-flowered, 12-14 inches tall), and 'Yellow Plume' (12-14 inches tall, with double flowers).

Gaillardia suavis (Pincushion Daisy, Perfumeballs, Fragrant Gaillardia)
These flowers are native to northern Mexico and the southern Great Plains region of the United States. These plants grow well in limestone and sandy soils, and prefer to grow in prairies, desert scrub landscapes, and open juniper woodlands. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6b-10a. Flowers are rayless, resembling a pincushion.

Caring for Gaillardia

Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as the hairs on their stems and leaves can cause contact dermatitis. Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower, is best when situated in full sun. Ideally, these flowers should be receiving between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. They appreciate soil that is well-draining and moderately fertile with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting, mulch around the base with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. Water new plants regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Gaillardia plants are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by for much of the year on rainwater alone with supplemental irrigation provided during extended periods of drought.

Fertilizing these plants is not necessary; they can perform well even in poor soils. If plants seem to be struggling, have yellowing foliage, or are not flowering well, they may benefit from a yearly early springtime feeding with a 2-inch layer of compost applied around the planting area. No pruning is needed other than to deadhead for a neater appearance and more blooms. If plants are getting leggy, they can be sheared back by about half to encourage a bushier habit. Water new plants regularly to help them establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants like to have a slightly moist soil around their root systems. They can form clumps over time in ideal growing conditions, and may need to be divided after a few years if they are grown in a cramped space or container. For instructions on how to divide Gaillardia plants, see the Propagation section below. Where Blanket Flower is grown as an annual, it is typically pulled and composted at the end of the growing season and seeds are re-sown in the next. In warmer zones, Gaillardia is a short-lived perennial, typically lasting for 2-3 years (up to 5) in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Gaillardia in Containers
Gaillardia are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Blanket Flowers grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot. They can form clumps over time in ideal growing conditions, and may need to be divided after a few years if they are grown in a cramped space like a container. For instructions on how to divide Gaillardia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Gaillardia can be propagated by using cuttings, through division, or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Corn Marigold, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Coleostephus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Gaillardia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, the seeds can be harvested. Cut the flower heads off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to release seeds. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container to work with them.
Water the prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place the seeds in the prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place the tray in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 10-14 days from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Gaillardia by Division
To propagate via division, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw (optional), extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots. To propagate your Blanket Flowers by division, follow the instructions below:

In early fall or early springtime, identify the clump of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the root system. Once you've gotten the clump out of the ground, run water over it or simply shake it to remove excess dirt. Then, lay it out on its side.
Separate the clump into multiple pieces, each with a healthy root system and adequate above-ground growth.
Prepare the planting area, whether it is a container or bed in the garden, and then plant the divisions. Afterwards, resume regular care.

A Gaillardia seed head with mature seeds.

Gaillardia seeds are small, grey-brown, and have upward-pointing hairs to aid in dispersal.

Problems and Pests

Certain species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Gaillardia flowers are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: