Blanket Flower Gaillardia x grandiflora
Other plants called Blanket Flower:
- Phonetic Spelling
- gay-LAR-dee-uh gran-duh-FLOR-uh
- Description
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This Blanket Flower is a hybrid of the perennial gaillardia (G. aristata) and a 2’ tall annual gaillardia (G. pulchella) and is generally short-lived. It is naturalized on coastal dunes and is resistant to damage by deer. There are several cultivars available to extend the color and height availability.
Most grow 1-3 feet tall with a 2-foot spread and if kept deadheaded will bloom most of the season. The stems and leaves are densely hairy and the flowers are often bi-colored and daisy-like.
Good drainage is a must as they will not survive the winter in poorly drained clay soils. Amend the soil with humus and keep evenly moist. They can survive some drought once established. Use this plant to add bright colors to the front of the border, in containers, on the patio or along walkways. Bees and butterflies will visit the flowers and if some seeds are left to form, goldfinches will eat them.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect herb with terminal head, center reddish, flattened dome-shaped
- Ray flowers large, outer, red with yellow apices
Susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, aster yellows, and leafhoppers, but none regarded as serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Baby Cole'
Dwarf - 'Burgundy'
Tall - 'Dazzler'
Tall - 'Goblin'
Dwarf - 'Golden Goblin'
Yellow flowers - 'Oranges and Lemons'
Orange rays with yellow tips - 'Torchlight'
Red center, yellow tips
- 'Baby Cole'
- 'Baby Cole', 'Burgundy', 'Dazzler', 'Goblin', 'Golden Goblin', 'Oranges and Lemons', 'Torchlight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Baby Cole'
Dwarf - 'Burgundy'
Tall - 'Dazzler'
Tall - 'Goblin'
Dwarf - 'Golden Goblin'
Yellow flowers - 'Oranges and Lemons'
Orange rays with yellow tips - 'Torchlight'
Red center, yellow tips
- 'Baby Cole'
- 'Baby Cole', 'Burgundy', 'Dazzler', 'Goblin', 'Golden Goblin', 'Oranges and Lemons', 'Torchlight'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gaillardia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and bees. Gold Finches will eat the seeds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- A terminal head, solitary on elongate peduncles, 2.5-4" diam.; receptable reddish to orangish-red pappus. Ray flowers bicolored, red to reddish-purple, with apex yellow; disc flowers purple or yellow.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, grayish-green, bluntly acute, cuneate to sub attenuate, hirsute; lower leaves 8-10" long, dentate to shallowly, pinnately lobed, petiolate; upper leaves reduced, becoming entire, sessile and +/- clasping.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Short-lived