native plant profile: Blanket Flower
The Blanket Flower -Gaillardia is a great choice for the native garden. With occasional deadheading, this carefree native perennial will continue to bloom from June until frost.
- Blanket Flower, Indian Blanket, Firewheel.
- 3 – 10
- 12 – 36 inches
- 12 – 24 inches
- June – Frost
- Bi-colored; Red, Orange, Yellow.
- Full Sun
- Dry – Average
- Loose, Well Drained.
- Borders, native gardens, butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, cut flowers, firescaping.
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms. Short-lived, leave a few flowers to self-seed.
- Honeybees, Native bees, Butterflies.
- Gaillardia Flower Moth (Schinia masoni), Painted Schinia Moth (Schinia volupia) and the Bordered Patch butterfly (Chlosyne lacinia).
- U.S. native. Deer & rabbit resistant.
- Beneficial value to native habitats & permaculture.
Gaillardia is very attractive to native bees and butterflies. The common blanket flower -Gaillardia aristata is the host plant to the Gaillardia Flower Moth -Schinia masoni, a beautiful flower moth that mimics the colors of the blanket flower to camouflage itself for protection while nectaring on this flower.
Propagation is done by seed. Seeds should be sown shallowly (or under a light covering of mulch) as the seeds need a little light to germinate. Sow in early spring or fall.
This plant is deer and rabbit resistant and does not seem to be bothered by pests or disease.
Native plants are essential to sustaining our native ecosystems. They are much more adaptive than exotics and require little care once established. They are superior choices for the garden and landscape. Go Native ♥