Planting and Growing Blanket Flowers (Gaillardia)

Close-up of red and yellow Gaillardia x grandiflora flowers

Gaillardia x grandiflora has distinctive two-tone sunset colors, bright patterns, and toothed petals.

Photo Credit:
Mikhail Pashchenko
Botanical Name
Gaillardia spp.
Plant Type
Flowers
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Varies
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Written By: Andy Wilcox Master Gardener and Gardening Contributor
Almanac Guide to Herbs

Looking for a flower that delivers nonstop color and attracts pollinators without demanding much in return? Meet the blanket flower (Gaillardia). With their daisy-like petals painted in fiery shades of red, orange, and gold, these native wildflowers live up to their name by blanketing garden beds in sunset hues throughout summer and fall. Tough and resilient, they thrive in poor soil, laugh off heat and drought, and invite bees, butterflies, and even goldfinches to the party. Learn how to grow these natural beauties.

They are native to much of North America and can be found as wildflowers in prairie habitats. While originating in the western states and the Great Plains, blanket flowers are cold-hardy to USDA Zones 3 to 9 and are excellent for dry, hot gardens as they don’t need much water. 

Most Gaillardia varieties are both annual and perennial types. Gaillardia pulchella is a relatively common annual, and G. aristata is a short-lived perennial. The most common type in home gardens is G. x grandiflora, which tends to be a short-lived perennial in most regions. 

A field of blanket flowers
Gaillardia x grandiflora in ‘Kobold’ grow profusely. Perfect as a border in a country cottage garden. Credit Peter Turner

Gaillardia blooms in early summer and keeps flowering profusely all summer long. In autumn, the flowers—if not deadheaded—become golfball-shaped seed heads favored by goldfinches. They are a favorite of bees and other pollinators and are often visited by butterflies.

They are moderately deer-resistant or, at least, get nibbled less often than most other plants. Most Gaillardia are cold hardy and will survive to –20°F with mulching in cold winters. Once established, these native wildflowers require very little care.

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Planting

When to Plant Gaillardia

Small plants purchased from the garden center can be hardened off and planted outside once the frosts are finished in spring. 

Warm-climate gardeners can also plant perennial blanket flowers by seed in fall. Wait to sow outdoors until the soil has warmed enough to plant sweet corn and tomatoes. Like many perennials, some Gaillardia planted from seed will not flower the first year, while other varieties will.

Where to Plant Blanket Flowers

Blanket flowers thrive in sun. They aren’t picky about pH and will do well in dry, less fertile conditions but can’t handle wet sites. Excellent drainage is the most crucial factor when considering soil. Gaillardia doesn’t spread by vegetative means but often self-seeds to fill an area. 

How to Plant Gaillardia

Gaillardia is quite easy to transplant and can also be started from seed indoors or directly sown in the garden. Here’s how to do it.

For established plants:

While Gaillardia are cold-hardy, wait to plant them outside in spring until the last frosts have passed.

  • Loosen the soil and plant them like other transplants, freeing any circling roots and digging a hole twice the size of the root ball.
  • Apply light pressure when replacing the soil to remove any air pockets.
  • Water deeply immediately after planting.
  • No fertilizer is needed, but a layer of mulch will help to keep the weeds down and the soil surface loose and uncrusted.
  • Space plants about 12 inches apart.

To start Gaillardia from seed:

Gaillardia can be started from seed, either indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost or outdoors directly in the soil after the last spring frost has passed. 

If starting indoors:

  • Premoisten seed starting mix and sow 2–3 seeds per small container or 1–2 seeds per cell in a cell tray, sowing ⅛ inch deep.
  • Cover the tray or pot with a humidity dome or plastic wrap and place it in a warm, well-lit location. They should pop up in 2–3 weeks.
  • Once seedlings have emerged, remove the humidity dome, provide 12–16 hours of light per day, and keep the soil barely moist.
  • Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. 

To sow blanket flowers directly into the flower bed:

  • Wait until the soil has warmed, about the time you’d transplant tomatoes or peppers.
  • Prepare the seedbed by loosening the soil and raking it smooth.
  • Scatter seeds on the surface. Lightly cover with a dusting of soil and water gently but well.
  • The thinnest layer of straw mulch can help keep the soil surface from drying out and crusting while not being much of a barrier for the little seedlings. 

Growing

Blanket flowers are in the category of “easy-to-grow” flowers. Being drought-tolerant, they won’t need much care from you to do well, so they’re a perfect choice for a harder-to-reach area. 

How to Grow Gaillardia

Water newly planted or sprouted Gaillardia when the soil feels dry an inch down, tested with your finger. After a month or two, when they’re established, back the watering frequency down and only water if a long dry period occurs. They won’t need fertilizer but will benefit from mulch to keep the weeds down, especially during the first year. In later years, they may close off the canopy and provide their own living mulch.

Deadheading blanket flowers will help encourage further blooms. If in a container on the deck, nip off spent blooms at the first leaf node weekly. For larger plantings in the garden, use hedge shears to give them a quick haircut and deadhead many spent blooms at once. Otherwise, leave flowers to become seedheads for an autumn bird attraction. 

As most Gaillardia varieties are cold-hardy to USDA Zones 3–9 or 4–9, leave the old growth intact over winter to provide insect habitat. Then prune them down to about 2–3 inches above ground in early spring. If you live in the colder regions of their area, a 3–4 inch thick layer of mulch in late fall can help with overwintering. Remove the mulch in spring and apply a fresh, non-soggy layer.

Pests and Problems

These plucky plants are not often bothered by disease or pests but can be affected by the following:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are blanket flowers annuals or perennials?

Blanket flowers can be either annual or perennial, depending on the species. Gaillardia pulchella is typically grown as an annual, while G. aristata is a short-lived perennial. Many garden varieties are hybrids like G. x grandiflora, which usually behave as short-lived perennials.

How long do blanket flowers bloom?

Blanket flowers bloom from early summer through fall. With regular deadheading, they can flower continuously for months.

Are blanket flowers drought-tolerant?

Very much so. Once established, blanket flowers tolerate heat and dry conditions exceptionally well and prefer well-drained soil over rich, moist ground.

Do blanket flowers attract pollinators?

Yes! They attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. In the fall, their seed heads are especially attractive to goldfinches.

Are blanket flowers deer-resistant?

They are moderately deer-resistant. While no plant is completely deer-proof, blanket flowers are less likely to be heavily browsed.

Should you deadhead blanket flowers?

Deadheading encourages more blooms and keeps plants looking tidy. If you leave the spent flowers in late summer or fall, birds can enjoy the seeds.

Types

When shopping for blanket flowers, remember that Gaillardia pulchella is an annual. G. x grandiflora or G. aristata are perennials. 

  • G. x grandiflora ‘Arizona Sun’ is a perennial in the classic gold and burgundy bicolor pattern. It is very heat-tolerant and cold-hardy in USDA Zones 3–9, typically reaching a foot tall and 2 feet wide.
  • G. aristata ‘SpinTop Red’ is another perennial with a shorter stature at about 10 inches tall. Loads of rusty red blooms with dark centers and good drought tolerance make this an excellent choice for a window box.
  • G. pulchella ‘Double Sunset’ is an antique variety with showy double petals. It is an annual but commonly self-seeds (if allowed to).
  • ‘Golden Beauty’ is a unique Gaillardia hybrid, a taller form with fully double flowers that look like golden-yellow pom-poms. It’s an annual.
Bee pollinating a blanket flower in a field.
Pollination of red and yellow flowers of Gaillardia aristata in June. Credit APugach

Wit and Wisdom

  • Gaillardia, commonly called blanket flowers, is part of the daisy (Asteraceae) family, so it’s no surprise that they look like big daisy-like flowers. 
  • The origins of the common name of blanket flowers are uncertain. It may be inspired by the plant’s ability to create a carpet of foliage and flowers in its native habitat.
  • Plan ahead when choosing a spot for blanket flowers. If your perennial bed is irrigated with a drip line, soaker hose, or overhead sprinkler, plant these flowers at the edge of the sprinkler pattern or a bit removed from the drip line. While some moisture is welcome for all plants, these drought-tolerant flowers won’t like frequent watering and wet conditions.
  • Gaillardia are short-lived perennials but can be kept vigorous by simply dividing the root ball—and replanting the new divisions, of course. Either early spring or autumn is fine for dividing, but in autumn, do so in time for the plants to put down new roots before the ground freezes.

Flowers
About The Author
Andy Wilcox

Andy Wilcox

Master Gardener and Gardening Contributor

Andy Wilcox is a freelance writer, flower farmer, and master gardener with over 25 years of experience in gardening, horticulture, and forestry. He is the co-owner of Stone’s Throw Flowers, a business...
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