Blanket flower, scientifically known as Gaillardia aristata, is a stunning and hardy perennial that’s a favorite among gardeners for its bright and cheerful blooms.
These daisy-like flowers are native to North America and come in a variety of colors, including vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, with a characteristic red center and yellow tips.
The most common type of blanket flower is the Gaillardia aristata, which is a hybrid of the Gaillardia aristata and the Gaillardia pulchella.
This plant is a favorite among pollinator gardens, attracting bees, butterflies, and small birds with its nectar-rich flowers.
Its hardiness and drought-tolerant nature make it a popular choice for rock gardens and dry climates, where it can thrive in full sun and hot summer temperatures.
Blanket flowers are also deer resistant, making them a great choice for gardens in areas with high deer populations.
Despite their delicate appearance, blanket flowers are quite tough and can withstand a variety of conditions, making them a great choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
As a master gardener, I have a wealth of experience in growing blanket flowers and can’t wait to share everything I know with you in this comprehensive guide.
Botanical Name: Gaillardia aristata
Common Name: Gallardia, blanket flower
Family: Asteraceae
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones: 3 – 10 (USDA Zones)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-draining soil
Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5 (slightly acidic)
Bloom Time: Repeat bloomer, summer through fall
Flower Color: Various shades of red, yellow, orange, or peach
Native Area: North America
Blanket Flower Plant Care
The Gaillardia aristata, commonly known as the blanket flower, is a drought-tolerant perennial that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s a hybrid of the daisy family, producing vibrant daisy-like flowers with red centers and yellow tips, attracting butterflies, bees, and small birds to your garden.
Plant your blanket flower in the late spring, after the last frost, ensuring the root ball is well-covered with soil. In its first year, it establishes its hardiness, often blooming from late summer into fall. It’s also deer-resistant, making it a great addition to pollinator gardens.
The blanket flower is a short-lived perennial, but it often self-seeds, ensuring additional blooms in your garden. It’s important to note that it’s not drought-intolerant, so it may need some watering during particularly dry periods.
Light
Blanket flower thrives best under full sun. These vibrant daisy-like flowers are at their best when basking in the direct and unfiltered rays of the sun.
The hotter the summer temperatures, the more these blossoms will flourish. It is essential to plant them in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
Whether adorning rock gardens or being a highlight in pollinator gardens, the blanket flower’s blooms are most abundant in full sun.
Soil
Gaillardia aristata prefers well-draining soil. This is crucial as the plant is drought tolerant and can suffer from root rot if the soil retains too much moisture.
Ideally, the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH range of 6.1 to 7.8. It can also thrive in poor, rocky soils, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens.
Before planting, it’s beneficial to amend the soil with organic compounds to improve its fertility and drainage. Lastly, ensure the soil is free from any potential pests or diseases that could harm the plant.
Water
Being drought tolerant, the Gaillardia aristata prefers dry climates and is quite intolerant to excessive watering. It’s during the hot summer temperatures that these hardy plants truly thrive, requiring only occasional watering.
Overwatering can lead to the development of powdery mildew, a common issue with many plants in dry climates. It’s best to let the soil dry out between waterings to prevent this.
In fact, in their first year, these short-lived perennials establish a robust root ball that seeks out moisture deep in the soil, making them incredibly resilient during periods of drought.
Temperature and Humidity
Blanket flowers thrive in full sun, even in areas with hot summer temperatures. These drought-tolerant plants are well-suited to dry climates and require minimal watering once established, making them an excellent choice for gardeners in arid regions.
They are also relatively hardy and can withstand a range of temperatures, provided they are planted after the last frost in late spring.
However, despite their preference for dry conditions, blanket flowers are somewhat drought intolerant in their first year. Once established, they can handle a variety of environmental conditions with ease.
Fertilizer
Blanket flower doesn’t have high fertilizer requirements. In fact, these drought-tolerant plants thrive best in poor, well-drained soil.
During the first year, a light application of slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer after the last frost can support initial growth. However, in subsequent years, these short-lived perennials often do well without additional feeding.
Over-fertilization can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of vibrant blooms. Therefore, it’s best to keep the use of compounds to a minimum and allow the plant’s natural hardiness to shine through.
Types of Blanket Flower
- Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’: The Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’ is a hybrid variety of blanket flower known for its vibrant red center and yellow tips on the petals. It is a drought-tolerant plant, making it suitable for dry climates and rock gardens. This type is also a favorite among pollinators, attracting bees, butterflies, and small birds.
- Gaillardia ‘Burgundy’: ‘Burgundy’ is a stunning variety of Gaillardia aristata, featuring daisy-like flowers with deep red blooms and a contrasting red center. It is a hardy plant, resistant to hot summer temperatures and drought.
- Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’: The ‘Fanfare’ is a unique type of Gaillardia with a profusion of red and yellow bi-color blooms. It is a short-lived perennial, but it compensates by producing additional blooms in the second year.
- Gaillardia ‘Goblin’: ‘Goblin’ is a dwarf variety of blanket flower, perfect for small gardens and containers. Its fiery red ray flowers and compact size make it a standout in any landscape.
- Gaillardia ‘Mesa Yellow’: The ‘Mesa Yellow’ is a drought-tolerant variety of blanket flower, known for its sunny, yellow flowers and a compact, mounding growth habit. It is a great choice for hot, dry climates and is resistant to powdery mildew.
- Gaillardia ‘Veronica’: ‘Veronica’ is a hardy, late-blooming variety of Gaillardia, with red and yellow bi-color flowers that resemble miniature sunflowers. It’s a great addition to pollinator gardens, attracting bees, butterflies, and small birds.
- Gaillardia ‘Salvia’: ‘Salvia’ is a unique variety of blanket flower, featuring deep red ray flowers and a contrasting red center. It is a drought-tolerant plant, perfect for dry climates, and is also resistant to deer and rabbits.
How to Plant Blanket Flower From Seed
Step 1: Choosing the Right Spot
Blanket flowers prefer full sun, making them perfect for bright, sunny spots in your garden. They can also tolerate partial shade, but this might result in fewer blooms.
They are also quite adaptable to different soil types, but they prefer well-drained soil. If your soil tends to hold water, consider adding some organic matter to improve drainage.
Step 2: Preparing the Soil
Before planting your blanket flower seeds, it’s a good idea to prepare the soil. You can do this by tilling the area to a depth of about 12 inches.
This will help loosen the soil and create a better environment for the seeds to establish their roots. You can also incorporate some compost or a balanced fertilizer to provide the plants with the nutrients they need.
Step 3: Planting the Seeds
Blanket flower seeds can be sown directly into the ground after the last frost in late spring. You can also start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and then transplant them outside once the weather has warmed up.
When planting the seeds, simply scatter them over the prepared soil and cover them lightly with a thin layer of soil. Water the area gently to settle the seeds in place.
How to Propagate Blanket Flower
Step 1: Prepare the Soil
Blanket flowers prefer well-draining soil, so amend your garden bed with organic matter such as compost or aged manure to improve soil structure and fertility. This step is crucial as healthy soil provides the best environment for root development.
Step 2: Divide the Plant
Using a sharp garden knife or a spade, carefully divide the blanket flower plant by cutting through the root ball. Each division should have several healthy shoots and a portion of the root system. This process is best done in early spring, just as new growth begins.
Step 3: Plant the Divisions
Prepare planting holes in the amended soil, spacing them according to the mature size of the blanket flowers. Gently place the divisions in the holes, ensuring the crown (where the stems meet the roots) is at soil level. Fill in the holes and lightly firm the soil around the divisions.
Step 4: Water and Mulch
After planting, water the divisions thoroughly to settle the soil and provide initial moisture. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or straw, around the plants to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until the divisions establish themselves.
How to Pot or Repot Blanket Flower
Step 1: Choose the Right Time
The best time to pot or repot your Gaillardia aristata, or blanket flower, is in the late spring, after the last frost has passed.
This timing allows the plant to establish itself in its new home before the hot summer temperatures set in.
Step 2: Select the Ideal Location
Blanket flowers thrive in full sun, which means they need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
They are also adaptable to a range of soil types but prefer well-draining soil. They are commonly found in rock gardens, pollinator gardens, and as a border plant.
Step 3: Prepare the Pot and Soil
Choose a pot with drainage holes that is slightly larger than the root ball of your blanket flower. Fill the pot with a well-draining potting mix.
You can improve the soil’s drainage by adding sand or perlite. If your garden has heavy clay soil, consider adding compost to improve the soil structure.
Step 4: Plant It
Gently remove the blanket flower from its current pot or location, being careful not to damage the roots or stems.
Place the plant in the center of the new pot, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Fill in around the plant with the potting mix, pressing lightly to secure the plant in place.
Step 5: Watering and Care
Water the newly potted blanket flower thoroughly, allowing the water to soak through the soil and reach the root ball.
In the first year, the plant may need more frequent watering to help it establish. Once established, blanket flowers are drought tolerant and prefer to dry out between waterings.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases for Blanket Flower
Rabbits
Rabbits are a common pest that can damage your blanket flower plants, especially in the first year when the plants are still establishing.
They are attracted to the tender stems and foliage and may even nibble on the blooms, reducing the overall hardiness of the plant.
Deer
Similar to rabbits, deer are also attracted to blanket flowers, especially in areas where they are not as common. They can cause significant damage by eating the entire plant, including the flowers, stems, and leaves.
Deer-resistant plants are a good option if you have a deer problem in your area.
Powdery Mildew
Blanket flowers are generally hardy and drought-tolerant, but they can be susceptible to powdery mildew, especially in humid or damp conditions.
This fungal disease appears as a white, powdery substance on the leaves and stems and can cause the plant to become weak and stunted.
Be sure to plant your blanket flowers in a location with good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to prevent powdery mildew.
Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that can be a problem for many garden plants, including blanket flowers.
They feed on the sap of the plant, which can cause the leaves to become distorted and the plant to become weak.
Aphids also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to the growth of sooty mold. Ladybugs and other beneficial insects are natural predators of aphids and can help keep their numbers in check.
These pests and diseases can be managed with proper care and attention, allowing your blanket flowers to thrive and continue to attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators to your garden.
Common Plant Problems and Solutions for Blanket Flower
Yellow Tips
If you notice the tips of your blanket flower’s daisy-like flowers or the foliage turning yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.
Blanket flowers are well-suited to dry climates and hot summer temperatures, so they are drought-tolerant and don’t require a lot of water once established.
Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot and other issues, so it’s important to let the soil dry out between waterings.
Brown Tips and Yellowing Foliage
Brown tips and yellowing leaves are common issues with Gaillardia aristata, the most common type of blanket flower. These are often signs of drought stress, a condition these plants are intolerant of.
The best solution to this problem is to ensure the plant is receiving adequate water, especially during hot summer temperatures. However, it’s important not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
A good rule of thumb is to water deeply, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Additionally, planting in a well-draining soil can help prevent waterlogging.
Short Blooming Period
Blanket flowers are short-lived perennials, meaning they often have a relatively short blooming period, especially in the first year.
To extend their display of daisy-like flowers, deadheading is essential. This involves the removal of spent blooms, which encourages the plant to produce additional blooms.
In the second year, the plant may also benefit from division to rejuvenated vigor and bloom.
Other Guides from Planet Natural:
How to Plant, Grow and Care for Tradescantia Nanouk: Full Guide
Copyright © 2004-2023