This Heat-Loving Flower Blooms Into Fall, Needs Little Attention, and Wildlife Love It
The plant every sunny yard needs for late-season color
You can't fail to notice Gaillardia, with its bold daisy-like blooms tinted in yellow and red. A US native, these short-lived perennials are easy-going, thrive in heat and need little water once established. Flowering non-stop from mid- summer through to the first frosts, it deserves a spot in every sunny yard.
Commonly known as blanket flower, there are two varieties native to the US - Gaillardia pulchella throughout eastern, central, and southwestern US and Gaillardia aristata across Illinois, Oklahoma, and most of the western US. Well adapted to thriving in the hot and dusty grasslands and prairies, these hard working plants are brilliant for dense ground cover, self seeding and supporting wildlife.
Growing blanket flower really couldn't be easier and with very little effort, it will reward you with showy blooms for months on end. In fact, even knowing how to deadhead blanket flowers is optional. You can find Gaillardia seeds at True Leaf Market or find seeds for the Arizona series with their double blooms at Burpee.
Why You Should Grow Gaillardia In Your Yard
No yard should be without blanket flower in late summer and when heading into fall. ‘Gaillardia is such an easy, joyful garden contributor. It pulls in the bees and butterflies and cut flower enthusiasts alike with its long bloom time’ says landscape designer, Stacilyn Feldman.
With it's bi-colored flowers in red and yellow, gaillardia radiates cheer amongst sun-ripened grasses and other fading summer blooms. ‘Blanket flower is one of those dependable native plants that truly shines during the hottest part of the growing season. To get the most from it, plant it in full sun with well-drained soil and avoid overwatering or fertilizing’, suggests Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy at the National Wildlife Federation.
Reaching heights of 2-3ft (61-91cm) with a spread of 2ft (61cm) these native varieties need regular watering and feeding during their first year, but will happily cope with drought conditions thereafter. Compact varieties are also available, and are perfect for containers and bedding displays.
'Annual blanket flower can be planted by seed in the fall and can bloom as early as the following spring,' says Mary. This plant is also a prolific self seeder, meaning that those seeds not eaten by birds will germinate and establish the following spring unaided.
Plant expert Laura Coggan also adds, 'Galliardia 'Spintop™ Mariachi Copper Sun' Improved is also worth mentioning where wildlife value is a priority. It is a compact, densely branching plant with strong stems and a particularly long, heavy flowering period. Its nectar and pollen-rich flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the seedheads are attractive to birds including goldfinches.' You can find this variety of blanket flower at Park Seed.
Looking After Your Gaillardia
Easy going and requiring little intervention - apart from in their first year - these long performing plants are essential in any low maintenance yard or pollinator garden. ‘It is relatively disease resistant and not usually susceptible to deer or rabbits’, says landscape architect Stacilyn Feldman .
'Blanket flower evolved in open prairies, grasslands, and sandy habitats where intense sunlight, high temperatures, and periodic drought are common,' says Mary. 'Deep root systems help the plant conserve water and bloom even during summer droughts. . 'It performs best in lean, well-drained soils, including sandy or gravelly sites, and does not tolerate poorly drained or consistently wet conditions.'
Although the lance-shaped, green-gray foliage is pretty unremarkable; including the slightly bristly leaves of the common blanket flower, it does form dense ground cover helping suppress weeds, conserve moisture and offering wildlife shelter. 'Plant blanket flower in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day,' advises Mary.
As long as it is not planted in rich, fertile soil, gaillardia will bloom non-stop from June to October. 'Deadheading will prolong flowering, so faded blooms can be cut back to a healthy leaf or side shoot through summer,' explains plant expert Laura Coggan. 'As fall approaches, leave some later flowerheads intact. This lets seed develop for birds while the remaining flowers continue to provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies.'
Aid good drainage by adding fine grade pea gravel from Walmart and make deadheading quick and easy with these Fiskars Pruning Snips from Amazon.
Mary is Head of Native Plant Habitat & Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, is an ambassador for native plants. Her work ensures all habitat programs and resources are rooted in sustainable practices and the latest science.
Stacilyn is a celebrated landscape architect known for her planting design and detailing in botanical gardens, residential estates, green roofs and urban development in Washington, DC, New York City and across the United States. Stacilyn holds a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from The Pennsylvania State University.
What To Plant Alongside Gaillardia
As a cheery flower in sunset shades, blanket flower can prove a challenge to work with. Leaving it to colonise large areas will create a showstopping late summer display, but there are other considered options too.
'Pick sympatico warm hued blooms like Sedum, Coreopsis, Achillea and ornamental grasses,' says Stacilyn. 'I’m partial to Panicum ‘Cape Breeze' - to pair with this garden workhorse.'
Due to its late flowering season, this resilient plant is one of the best to attract hummingbirds plus it's hugely valuable in to beneficial insects and pollinators too. Team it with like-minded flowers as part of a drought tolerant pollinator garden. 'Pairing blanket flower with other native species that bloom before and after it creates a continuous source of nectar for pollinators throughout the growing season,' adds Mary.
Sun loving shrubs such as rosemary, lavender and bottle brush are perfect companions to showy blanket flowers and make a statement as part of a Mediterranean garden or xeriscape. No surprise, but these prairie blooms also work with a mix of airy perennials and grasses too, including tickseed, coneflower, stipa, rudbeckia and blue-silver stemmed Russian sage.
For a simple and no-effort plant combination try the Native Western Xeriscape Wildflower Seed Mix from American Meadows.
Environmental horticulture specialist for Park Seed, with formal training in plant performance, garden design, and seasonal crop selection.
Impressed how blanket flower can extend your yard's floral charm, take it even further with these best fall-flowering perennials.
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