Blanket Flower Gaillardia pulchella
Introduction
This sturdy North American native
forms attractive, 12 to 24-inch-tall, rounded clumps of soft,
hairy, divided leaves and single, semidouble, or double flowers
held on long stems above the foliage (Fig. 1). Appearing
throughout the summer, the two to three-inch-wide flowers
are available in yellow, orange, red, or bicolors, and make
excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. The brilliant blossoms
are quite attractive to butterflies, and these annual flowers
will normally reseed themselves quite readily.
General Information
Scientific name: Gaillardia pulchella
Pronunciation: gay-LAR-dee-uh pul-KEL-luh
Common name(s): Gaillardia, Blanket-Flower
Family: Compositae
Plant type: annual; perennial; herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 11
Planting month for zone 9: Mar
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: container or above-ground planter; cut flowers; accent;
mass planting; ground cover; attracts butterflies; small parking
lot islands (< 100 square feet in size); medium-sized parking
lot islands (100-200 square feet in size); large parking lot
islands (> 200 square feet in size)
Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness
range
Description
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Plant habit: spreading
Plant density: open
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Leaf margin: lobed; serrate Current year stem/twig color: not
applicable
Leaf shape: oblanceolate; spatulate Current year stem/twig thickness:
not applicable
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: semi-evergreen
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable
Flower
Flower color: yellow; orange; red; bicolors
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; fall flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit cover: unknown
Fruit color: unknown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam;
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerances: good
Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features
and could be planted more
Invasive potential: native plant that often reproduces into nearby
landscapes
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant
Use and Management
Suitable for growing along the beaches right on the dunes, Gaillardia
does best in light, very well-drained soils in full sun locations,
enduring heat, sandy soil and drought extremely well. Gaillardia
shows well in a mass planting spaced two to three feet apart,
as an edging plant along a walk or driveway, as an accent
in a perennial garden or in front of a shrubbery border.
Do not over-water since this could induce root rot. Cultivars
include ‘Yellow Sun’, bright yellow blooms, and‘Red
Plume’, vibrant, dark red blossoms. Propagation is
by seed or root divisions planted in early spring.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.
by Edward F. Gilman and Sydney Park-Brown
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