Gaillardia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gay-LAR-dee-uh
- Description
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Gaillardia or the blanket flower genus is a group of short-lived perennial plants in the Asteraceae (daisy) family native to North and South America including North Carolina. The plant was named after Maître Gaillard de Charentonneau, an enthusiastic botanist in France. There are many hybrids of this plant available on the market in a variety of shapes and colors. They attract pollinators to the flowers and bloom from spring to fall. Blanket flower is deer and rabbit resistant and salt tolerant.
These plants need good drainage in full sun to thrive. They are drought tolerant once established and require very little fertilizer. Use these plants to add lots of color to the front of the border, in containers and mass planted. Deadhead to encourage repeat blooming.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally, no problems, but leaf spot and powdery mildew can occur. Aphids, leafhoppers and thrips can occur. Root rot in too wet conditions is a problem.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gaillardia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North and South America
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies visit the flowers
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Hairy achenes form from the disc flowers
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers vary per variety but are usually solitary disc flowers surrounded by 15 or more ray flowers in a variety of colors. Some varieties have rolled or tubular rays in single or double rows.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves vary and are usually gray-green, hairy, with lance-shaped leaves that have smooth or lobed edges
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
