Gaillardia aristata

Common Names

Blanket Flower, Common Gaillardia, Brown-eyed Susan, Great Blanket Flower, Indian Blanketflower

Summary

Gaillardia aristata is a North American prairie-native, clump-forming perennial with upright stems and lance-shaped, grey-green leaves, it bears large, daisy-like flower heads on showy stems, with orangey-red and yellow ray florets surrounding a central disk, blooming from mid-summer to early autumn, the plant grows about 0.5–1.0 m tall and wide, thriving in moderately fertile, well-drained soils (chalk, loam, and sand) in full sun with a pH range from acidic to alkaline, it is drought resistant and may require staking in exposed positions, propagation is by division in spring or by seed, regular deadheading and a final cut-back after flowering maintain vigor, it is hardy in zones 3–10 and generally pest-resistant, though powdery mildew can occur in humid conditions and root rot may occur in poorly drained soils, it tolerates drought and poor soils, suits borders, rock gardens, cottage-style plantings, and xeriscapes, and attracts bees and butterflies, with seed heads attracting birds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

18-30 inches

Spread

1-3.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day).

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, preferably sandy or loamy.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably sandy or loamy; avoid heavy clay soils and waterlogged soils.

Soil pH

No specific ideal soil pH; tolerates a wide range from slightly acidic to mildly alkaline.

Bloom Color

Yellow, orange, and red (often bi-colored yellow and red)

Bloom Time

Spring through Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Very fast growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds