🌼 Gaillardia, commonly known as blanket flower, is a vibrant and hardy flowering plant from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Native to North and South America, it’s beloved for its daisy-like blooms in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow.
🌿 Key Features
- Type: Annual or perennial herb, depending on the species
- Height: Up to 80 cm (about 31.5 inches)
- Flowers: Brightly colored with ray and disc florets; often bicolored
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Common Varieties:
- Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel)
- Gaillardia aristata (Common blanket flower)
- Gaillardia × grandiflora (Hybrid of pulchella and aristata)
🌞 Growing Conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun is ideal
- Soil: Well-draining, poor to moderately fertile soil
- Watering: Drought-tolerant once established
- Zones: Hardy in USDA zones 3–10
🐝 Benefits
- Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
- Excellent for borders, rock gardens, and wildflower meadows
- Low maintenance and long blooming
🌱 Fun Fact
The name “blanket flower” may come from its ability to blanket the ground with colorful blooms or from its resemblance to Native American woven blankets.
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