Beach Blanket-flower Gaillardia pulchella
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gaillardia bicolor var. drummondii
- Gaillardia neomexicana
- Gaillardia pulchella var. drummondii
- Gaillardia villosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- gay-LAR-dee-uh pul-CHEL-uh
- Description
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Indian blanket flower is an erect annual or perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. The showy bicolored disc flowers have bold colors similar to those utilized by Native Americans in weaving blankets, hence the common name. Another meaning of the common name could be derived from the way the plant grows "blanketing" the ground. The genus name, Gaillardia, is in honor of 18th-century French botanist Gaillard de Charentonneau. The species epithet, pulchella, means "beautiful." These flowers are prolific on the barrier islands and will grow in the soft sand along beach walkways. They are now thoroughly naturalized from North Carolina to Florida, with North Carolina being its northern limit.
Prefers full sun though it tolerates light shade and is tolerant of most garden soils as long as they drain well and get even moisture. Plant seed in the fall by direct sowing and lightly raking in. Provide constant moisture for good germination and they will grow 1 and half to 2 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. They are highly drought, heat, and salt tolerant.
The show stopping orange and red flowers appear from summer to fall adding brightness to the landscape for a long season and the nectar attracts butterflies. If the seed heads are left over winter they will be enjoyed by songbirds.
Indian blanket flower grows well in containers, or mass plant it for some amazing warm colors in your landscape. They work well in borders, in a cutting garden, or in a children's garden. Tuck it between small spaces in a rock or cottage garden, or let it naturalize in a meadow.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect herb with terminal, solitary heads
- Enlarged, tubular flowers, red with yellow apices
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems but watch for aphids and thrips. Indian Blanket Flower will not survive in water-logged soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Colorful Borders
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gaillardia
- Species:
- pulchella
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Teas made from the plant helped gastro-instestinal problems, skin disorders, and bathing in the tea provided pain relief to nursing mothers. The Kiowa people believed the plant brought good luck.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. U.S.A. to N. Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from the flowers attracts butterflies, seeds attract goldfinches so consider leaving seed heads after flowering.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from May to January
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy long-lasting daisy-like flower heads appear from spring to the first frost. Flowers are orange-red rays with 3-toothed yellow tips 1"-2" across. Disk flowers in the center are purple-brown. A terminal head, solitary on elongate peduncles to 6" long, 1.5-2" diam.; receptable reddish to orangish-red pappus; involucral bracts green. Ray flowers to 3/4", few, red with yellow tips or red; disc flowers numerous, enlarged, tube funnel-shaped, red, lips yellow.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green oblong to oblanceolate 3" long leaves. Alternate, simple, grayish-green, bluntly acute, attenuate, hirsute, oblong to oblanceolate; lower leaves 4.5-6" long, coarsely toothed to entire, short-petiolate to sessile; upper leaves reduced, 1.5-3" long, coarsely-toothed to entire, sessile, subclasping.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Upright stems have few leaves toward the top
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Salt
