Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

These plants thrive best in full sun. The blanket flower can handle some partial shade, particularly in hot climates, but they will get a bit floppy and will not flower as profusely.

How to Grow and Care for Blanket Flower (Gallardia)

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She’s also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie’s garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author with over 30 years of experience in year-round organic gardening; seed starting, growing heirlooms, and sustainable farming.

Gaillardia, also known as blanket flower, is an easy-to-grow, short-lived perennial with richly colored, daisy-like flowers. The plant forms a slowly spreading mound, and the common name may be a reference to how they can slowly spread and “blanket” an area. The plants grow to about 24 inches in height with about a 20-inch spread. Blanket flowers are fast-growers. If grown from seed, they will bloom in their second year, but plants purchased from nurseries are typically ready to bloom in your garden. This garden favorite puts out large showy blossoms in shades of reds and yellows throughout the warm season months.

These short-lived perennials are usually planted from nursery starts, but they also grow easily from seeds planted directly in the garden after the last frost date (or started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks early). Take note that blanket flower is slightly toxic to humans.

Light

These plants thrive best in full sun. The blanket flower can handle some partial shade, particularly in hot climates, but they will get a bit floppy and will not flower as profusely.

Soil

Gaillardia prefers poor soil. Do not amend with rich matter or overly fertilize. It is not particular about soil pH, but it does need well-draining soil. It will grow in somewhat moist conditions, but heavy clay soil will probably kill it.

Water

Immediately after planting, water deeply to encourage good root development. Check soil frequently (every other day or so) to ensure the soil is moist but not soggy one inch below soil line. Once established, Gaillardia is extremely drought tolerant. It can go without watering unless there are extremely hot and dry conditions, then it’s best to water the bed once or twice per week. Avoid overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

Blanket flowers thrive in full sun and can withstand hot summer temperatures. They do not require a humid environment and do better in hot, dry climates over cool, moist ones. In cooler climates, protect your overwintering blanket flowers with a thick layer of mulch.

Fertilizer

Poor soils seem to encourage more flowering than rich soils, so go easy on (or avoid) the fertilizer.

Types of Blanket Flower

There are over two dozen species in the Gaillardia genus and most are native to some areas of North America. Gaillardia pulchella, which is native from the southeastern U.S. through to Colorado and south into Mexico, was cross-bred with Gaillardia aristata, a prairie flower, to create Gaillardia X Grandiflora, which is the most common garden form.

Here are other popular types:

• Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’: A 2005 All-America Selections Winner, these 3- to 4- inch flowers have a red center surrounded by yellow.
• G. ‘Burgundy’: These flowers feature wine-red petals with a yellow center disk that ages to burgundy.
• G. ‘Fanfare’: This variety produces trumpet-shaped flowers that shade from soft red through yellow radiate from a rosy center disk.
• G. ‘Goblin’: This is a very hardy variety with large green leaves that are veined in maroon.
• G. ‘Mesa Yellow’: The 2010 All-America Selections Winner is known for its striking yellow flowers.

Pruning

Blanket flower does not require deadheading to keep blooming, but the plants will look better and be fuller if you do cut the stems back when the flowers start to fade. You will also get more continuous flowering with deadheading, so don’t be shy about it. Deadheading isn’t mandatory, but it may stimulate additional blooms. If the plant languishes in the heat of summer, cutting it back dramatically may reinvigorate it for good fall blooming.

Propagating Blanket Flowers

There are seeds for many Gaillardia x Grandiflora varieties. You can sow them in the spring, but they won’t flower the first year. Get a head start by sowing in late summer and protecting the young plants over the winter. Since the plants can be short-lived and hybrids don’t grow true from self-seeding, it is best to divide the plants every two to three years in the spring or fall to try to keep them going. Follow these steps to divide blanket flowers:

1. Use a spade to dig a circle about 6 inches to 8 inches around the mound of blanket flowers that need dividing. Dig down about a foot to release the root ball.
2. Lift the root ball from the soil using the spade. Shake the root ball slightly to remove some of the dirt to expose the roots.
3. Gently tease roots apart with your fingers or use a sterile, sharp knife to divide into two or three clumps. Each clump should include a few shoots of foliage.
4. Replant divisions in a prepared area that will allow the roots to spread.
5. Once roots are covered with soil, water thoroughly to moisten the roots.
6. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, until you see the plant is no longer stressed, and then cut back on watering as you would with established blanket flowers.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Blanket flower plants are susceptible to aster yellows, a virus-like disease that can stunt their growth and cause the flowers to be green. Plants that do contract aster yellows should be destroyed. They will not recover and the disease can continue to spread. ​

Aster yellows are spread by leaf-hoppers and aphids, so the best thing to do is to encourage predators, like ladybugs. Hopefully, you will have enough natural predators around to keep them in check. Otherwise, spray with insecticidal soap which helps ward off the pests.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Native to the American prairies, gaillardia, commonly called blanket flower, is a tough, drought-resistant, sun-loving perennial that’s super easy to grow. Blanket flower’s festive, solid or patterned flowers in red, orange, or yellow appear throughout the summer and will attract scores of colorful butterflies to your garden. The flowers appear on sturdy stems held high above the plant’s foliage. Most varieties of blanket flower grow 18 to 22 inches tall. Hardy from zones 5-9.

Blanket Flower Questions?
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Blanket Flower Growing Instructions

Blanket flower has simple needs. All it really wants is a sunny spot and an occasional drink of water. They aren’t fussy about soil type, but do prefer a well drained spot that doesn’t stay muddy after a heavy rain. In the northern parts of their range, a light winter mulch will help them handle below zero temperatures. Blanket flowers also grow well in containers.
Divide blanket flowers every two or three years to keep the plants vigorous. It can be a short-lived perennial so add new plants every few years.

• Water Moist
• Light Outside: Sun
• Colors Orange Red Yellow
• Special Features Attracts butterflies Deer/rabbit resistant Super-easy to grow

Complement your Blanket Flower

Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a great partner for gaillardia because both plants bloom at the same time and are similar in height.

Red Hot Poker
The tall bloom spikes of red hot poker are a great companion for blanket flower.

Our favorite varieties

Arizona Apricot Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Apricot’

An award winner, ‘Arizona Apricot’ blanket flower develops lovely yellow petals that gradually darken to a rich apricot center. The plants bloom nonstop all summer, especially if you remove the faded flowers as they appear. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Zones 3-9

Gallo Peach Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Gallo Peach’

A newer variety, ‘Gallo Peach’ blanket flower shows off a steady supply of lovely sunny-yellow flowers accented with peachy-orange centers. Zones 6-9

Gallo Red Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Gallo Red’

Easy to grow and flowering nonstop throughout the summer, ‘Gallo Red’ blanket flower features lovely red-orange flowers that attract tons of butterflies. Zones 6-9

Mesa Bicolor Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Mesa Bicolor’

Enjoy a constant stream of amazing yellow flowers with red centers when you plant ‘Mesa Bicolor’ blanket flower. It the perfect choice for the sunny border or containers. It grows 18 inches tall. Zones 5-9

Arizona Sun Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’

Bright red serrated flowers edged in yellow make ‘Arizona Sun’ a great choice for hot, sunny locations. This drought tolerant variety is an award winner. Zones 3-9

Gallo Dark Bicolor

Gaillardia ‘Gallo Dark Bicolor

Gallo Dark Bicolor is a smaller-growing blanket flower variety that shows off large red-and-yellow flowers all summer and into the fall. It grows 10 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Zones 6-9

Arizona Red Shades Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Red Shades’

Arizona Red Shades blanket flower is an award-winning selection that shows off rusty-red flowers all summer and into autumn. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 3-9

Mesa Yellow Blanket Flower

Gaillardia ‘Mesa Yellow’

Award-winning Mesa Yellow blanket flower is sure to bring your yard (or container gardens) to life with its constant display of cheery yellow flowers. Mesa Yellow grows 16 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Zones 5-10

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