Gaillardia for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

While there is some disagreement about whether the gaillardia flower’s nickname, blanket flower, comes from its ability to “blanket” a garden, or its resemblance to Indigenous American blankets, one thing is certain: this bright, low-maintenance wildflower is an excellent addition to home gardens. With multiple varieties to choose from, gaillardias offer gardeners flexibility in terms of color and size. Gaillardia are also:

• Available in both perennial and annual varieties.
• Repeat bloomers that produce flowers from early summer through the fall.
• Make great cut flowers when grown as a long-stemmed variety.

Planting and Care

by Jo Cosgrove | Ecological Gardener, Horticulturist, and Educator – last update on December 2, 2021

Planting instructions

Gaillardia flowers are typically hardy in USDA zones 3-10. As natives of drier North American regions, they do best in loose, well-draining soil that has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. They also require full sun for optimal blooming. If planting gaillardia flowers from containers, dig a hole that is about 10 percent larger than the root ball, place the plant in the hole, and cover it with soil. They are also relatively easy to grow from seed, either by sowing directly outside after the last frost, or by germinating indoors starting four to six weeks before the final frost and transferring outside in the spring.

Watering and nutrients

When gaillardia flowers are young, be sure to water them regularly but avoid overwatering. These plants are highly susceptible to root rot from sitting in water-logged soil. Check if the top one to two inches of soil are dry before watering. Once established, gaillardias are drought-tolerant, so you can significantly cut back on watering, especially if you live in an area with consistent rainfall. Blanket flowers do not require much in the way of feeding, and tend to thrive in poor soil conditions. These are ideal flowers for gardeners who prefer low-maintenance plants, or have nutrient-poor soil.

Pollination

If you are allergic to or wary of bees, you may want to avoid planting blanket flowers in your garden. Bees, including bumblebees, green metallic sweat bees, and others, are the primary pollinators of blanket flowers. Blanket flowers also attract caterpillars and butterflies, including painted schinia, whose wing patterns and colors actually resemble those of the gaillardia. These insects are drawn to the flowers’ brightly-colored petals and sweet nectar.

Pruning

Gaillardias are a self-seeding plant. If you do not remove the spent flowers, they will seed the ground around them, encouraging their blanketing style of growth. Deadhead your gaillardias to encourage new flower production throughout the growing season and to prevent new plants from taking root. Once the growing season ends, you can cut the plant back to a few inches above ground level to keep it looking fresh when it begins growing again, but this is not required for a healthy gaillardia.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Gaillardias are largely resistant to pests and diseases. The most common disease that can affect these flowers is aster yellows, a virus-like disease that is spread by leaf-hoppers and aphids. If blanket flowers become infected with aster yellows, it will inhibit their growth and turn their flowers green. Remove the infected flowers, as there is no way to cure the infection. Natural predators like ladybugs can control the pests that cause aster yellows, or you can preventatively spray flowers with insecticidal soap. Gaillardias are rabbit and deer resistant.

Light

Blanket flowers should have full sun, as this will ensure they produce an abundance of perky flowers. They can survive in partial shade, particularly if the shade is during the afternoon in especially hot climates, but you may find that these plants don’t bloom as profusely.

If these flowers don’t get enough sun, they also have a tendency to become limp and floppy. Try to position the plants in an area where they will receive sunlight all day long if you want to get the best out of them.

Temperature

Blanket flowers are hardy through USDA zones 3 to 10, with some variation depending on the variety. These plants enjoy hot, dry weather and will struggle in cool, moist conditions. Perennial blanket flowers will die back in the winter, and how you care for the plant during this time is a matter of personal preference.

Propagation

Blanket flowers can be propagated from seed or through division. They are a short-lived plant, so if you want to extend the lifespan of your plant, then division is a good way to do this. Every two years, dig up your blanket flowers and separate one plant into two by gently pulling the roots apart. Replant your blanket flowers as two separate plants, and then continue this again in another two years.

Flowers

The flowers of this plant are the main attraction of the blanket flower. They have an extended blooming period, producing colorful flowers from summer all the way through to fall. The flowers are similar to daisies in appearance and can be single or double-layered, with some petals having a frilled edge.

Flowers can be up to 3 inches wide and typically come in colors synonymous with fall, such as orange, deep red, and mustard yellow. The flowers are especially attractive to pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.

Gaillardia Varieties

There are over 20 species of blanket flower, but there are two main categories of this plant.

Gaillardia Aristata

This is a perennial blanket flower that is native to the prairies of the US.

Gaillardia Pulchella

This brightly colored variety is the annual species of the blanket flower and is native to the southeast of the Americas, from Mexico all the way up to Colorado.

Gaillardia x Grandiflora

This is a hybrid of the G. Aristata and G. Pulchella. It combines the brightly colored flowers of G. Pulchella and the perennial nature of G. Aristata. This is the most common type of blanket flower sold in nurseries, and it is the type that most people are familiar with. Popular varieties within this species include the following.

‘Arizona Red Shades’

This variety produces a compact, bushy plant covered with free-flowering crimson red flowers. Some of the tips of the petals can be tinged with yellow. It grows up to 10 inches tall and is mostly pest and disease-free. The flowers of this plant make especially good cut flowers, and they bloom from early summer through fall.

‘Oranges and Lemons’

This is a fairly tall variety of blanket flower, growing up to 24 inches. Despite its height, it maintains a compact upright stature and blooms heavily, with up to 75 flowers in bloom at any one time. The flowers are pale orange with subtle yellow tips.

‘Sunset Mexican’

This variety grows up to 16 inches in height but has a compact, bushy habit. The flowers are very dramatic, with petals that start out as a vibrant pink near the center of the flower, transforming to lemon yellow at the tips.

‘Sunset Popsy’

The flowers of this plant are highly pigmented, with deep pink petals that are fringed in creamy yellow. Growing to 16 inches high, this blanket flower works well as a border plant or can be grown in a container. It blooms profusely and reliably from early summer through fall. If you find yourself with an excess of blooms, these flowers make excellent cut bouquets (Gardenia).

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