Common Name: blanket flower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 0.75 to 1.00 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: Orange-red
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers moist, organically rich soils that drain well but tolerates dry soils and drought. Performs poorly in overly moist, heavy clay soils. Deadheading spent flowers is not necessary, but will tidy the planting and may encourage additional bloom. If flowering declines or stops in summer, consider cutting back plants to encourage a fall bloom.
‘Bijou’ is a seed strain that will self-seed in optimum growing conditions if flowers are not deadheaded.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Gaillardia aristata is a species of blanket flower that is native to western North America, from North Dakota to Colorado west to California and British Columbia and is found primarily in dry sites on meadows, prairies, grasslands, mountain foothills and at lower mountain elevations to 9000’ above sea level. Mature plants will reach 1-3' tall and 1-2' wide. Produces a long-lasting display of daisy-type blooms from late spring into fall. Yellow, lance-shaped ray florets (sometimes with purplish bases) surround the brownish-purple center disk. Lance-shaped gray-green leaves can reach up to 6" long and may be pinnately lobed near the base of the plant. The phyllaries (leafy bracts around the base of daisy-type flowerheads), stems and leaves of this plant are covered in stiff, bristly hairs. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators and the seedheads are attractive to birds. The popular but short lived gaillardia hybrid sold in commerce as G. x grandiflora are crosses between perennial G. aristata and annual G. pulchella.
Genus name honors Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th century French botanist.
The specific epithet aristata means "bristly" in reference to the hairs that cover the phyllaries, stems and leaves.
‘Bijou’ is a dwarf seed strain that typically grows to only 10-12” tall.
Problems
Root rot may occur in poorly drained soils, particularly during periods of protracted heavy summer rains. Species plants are generally susceptible to powdery mildew, aster yellows and fungal leaf spot diseases.
Uses
Perennial border fronts, rock gardens, cottage gardens and cutting gardens. Also effective in containers.