Gaillardia (Blanket Flowers)
by CMG Kathleen S.
The best known Gaillardia in Texas is the Texas native Indian Blanket, Gaillardia pulchella. It is a member of the Asteraceae family. It was named after an 18th century French magistrate, M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an avid botanist. Indian Blanket, Firewheel, and Girasol Rojo are common names. The name Indian Blanket likely derived from the beautiful colors found in Native American Blankets combined by its ability to blanket an area in color. It is a slow spreading plant that forms mounds approximately 20 inches across and 24 inches in height. This is a prolific “self-seeder” guaranteeing reseeding in your garden.
Indian Blanket from TXMN.org
Some cultivars and hybrids of Gaillardia or Blanket Flowers (used here to differentiate these plants from the native Indian Blanket) can have tubular blossoms or doubled petals. They can be various shades of red, yellow, orange, or peach. These plants are wonderful choices for gardeners with “brown thumbs” living in South Central Texas. They are easy to grow and maintain. Six to eight hours of direct sunlight is needed. Poor, well-drained soil is a requirement. This is not a water needy plant but a small amount of irrigation will lengthen the time Blanket Flowers bloom. Blanket Flowers need little fertilizer and benefit from compost added to the soil when it’s planted and an annual compost top dressing thereafter. Too much fertilizer will result in leggy, weak stemmed plants.
Blanket Flower photo by Marr Suwak from GardenersPath.com
Blanket Flowers can have several diseases. Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot can appear if the plant is not getting enough sunlight or is growing in wet conditions. Limiting water and planting in sunny areas are good preventive measures. Aster yellow is a serious disease and any plant infected by it must be removed from the garden immediately to avoid spreading. Do not place the remains in your compost. Symptoms include yellowed and disfigured leaves and stunted or small blooms. It is often spread by aphids and leafhoppers, wedge shaped bugs that remove sap from stems and leaves. Ladybugs can be used to get rid of aphids. Treat plants with neem oil or an insecticidal soap to rid them of these pests.
Gaillardia x Grandiflora ‘Fanfare’ from HappyDIYHome.com
This is a short lived plant – usually 2 to 3 years. Dividing two year old plants will rejuvenate them as new plants develop along severed roots. Blanket Flowers do not need to be cut back in the fall, so are perfect for the less ambitious gardener.
Indian Blankets are versatile plants. They can be used to naturalize an open meadow with bluebonnets and purple thistles. Native and hybrid gaillardia work well in cottage gardens and can make a beautiful garden border. They can also be grown in containers. Consider planting with Shasta daisies, garden phlox, cone flowers, foxgloves and hollyhocks. Remember to plant the gaillardia in a hot, dry part of your garden.
There are many varieties of gaillardia to consider. Height will vary from 14 inches tall to 4 feet tall. Some will have the “traditional” markings while others have copper colored or burgundy petals. Gaillardia is pollinator friendly and its seed pods attract small birds such as finches.
Gaillardia x Grandiflora ‘Fanfare Blaze’ from Gardenia.net
References: thespruce.com; txmg.org/hendersonmg; gardenloversclub.com; gardenerspath.com; thegardeningcook.com; bhg.com