Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) can be either annuals (Gaillardia pulchella) or perennials (Gaillardia X grandiflora). Both produce daisylike blooms in the yellow, orange and red palette, often producing striking bicolored petals. How soon they bloom after planting depends in part on the variety chosen, but there are ways to promote earlier blooming.
Annual Blanket Flowers
Annual blanket flowers vary in blooming time, depending on the variety. Blooms may appear anytime from early summer to early fall. Starting seeds inside six to eight weeks before the last expected frost in your area gives them a jump-start and typically produces earlier blooms than directly seeding them in the soil in the spring.
Perennial Blanket Flowers
Perennial blanket flowers generally bloom from early summer to early fall, but may be delayed if seeds are planted in the garden in the spring. The National Gardening Association recommends starting them inside four to six weeks before the last expected frost in the spring. Seeds may also be planted in the garden in late fall or very early spring to allow more time for plants to grow.
If early blooms are important, starting annual blanket flowers inside in late winter and transplanting the seedlings to the garden in the spring may be the best solution, as annuals tend to grow quickly to complete their life cycle. Otherwise, starting perennial blanket flowers early will typically produce a flush of blooms the first year and will bloom prolifically the flowering year. The advantage of planting perennial blanket flowers is that they will return each year and produce abundant blooms.
Both annual and perennial blanket flowers prefer a sunny location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Both require well-drained sandy or loamy soil and tolerate drought conditions well. Low fertility and neutral to slightly alkaline soil provides blanket flowers with what they need to thrive. Although not vital, deadheading old blooms prolongs the blooming period and prevents your blanket flowers from going to seed prematurely.
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