Growing Guide
 
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Gaillardia

Annual Flower, Wildflower

Also known as Blanket Flower, Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
Asteraceae Family
Synonym: Gaillardia drummondi, G. bicolor

Gaillardia provides sizzling summer color to the garden with striking blooms in combinations of red, yellow and orange offset by deep brown centers. Great for hot, dry sites.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun

Soil conditions:

  • tolerates droughty soil
  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates low fertility

Special locations:

  • outdoor containers
  • xeriscapes
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.66 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 1.25 feet

Bloom time:

  • early summer
  • mid-summer
  • late summer
  • early fall
  • mid-fall

Flower color:

  • red
  • orange
  • yellow
  • violet
  • other

Flowers are a colorful mix of yellow, red and orange with purple/maroon centers.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Tolerates:
  • frost
  • heat
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • native to North America - North America
Attracts:
  • butterflies
Special uses:
  • cut flowers
  • direct-seeding
  • wildflowers
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost, or sow directly outdoors after the last frost. Do not cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate.

Germination temperature: 60 F to 65 F

Days to emergence: 14 to 21

Maintenance and care:
Deadhead to encourage flowering.

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Varieties
Look for color variations, single, double and quilled flowers, and varying heights.

‘Double Mixed’: 3” wide single or bicolor flowers are double and come in shades of yellow, orange, red and cream. Plants grow to 2’ tall.

‘Red Plume’: dwarf 1’ tall plants are very drought and wind tolerant and bear vivid solid 2” wide red flowers. Very striking.