Blanket Flower: A Gardener’s Guide and Plant Profile

Learn all about the perennial species of Blanket Flower in this gardener's guide of this beautiful plant, including plant care, companion plants, and more.

 

 

If you could create a summer perennial garden wishlist, you might include plants that not only have beautiful, vibrant color but are low maintenance and drought-tolerant.

Well, look no further because the Blanket flower should be right at the top of your list.

With bright hues of pinks, oranges, and yellows, the Blanket flower will jazz up your garden with its daisy-like flowers.

In this Blanket flower plant profile, you'll learn about the unique characteristics of this plant as well as basic plant care and companion plants for your landscape.

If you already have these perennials in your garden or you're wondering if they would work for you, read on to learn more or jump to a specific section below!

 

Quick Plant Care Facts

Sun Exposure	Full sun
Soil Needs	Well-draining soil.
Water Needs	Needs moderate watering.
Cold-Hardiness Zones	USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10.
Bloom Time	During Summer months. grandiflora species have very long bloom times from start of summer to first frost in fall and will flower first year when planted by seed.
Flower Colors	Flowers come in red, orange, yellow variations with most common colors being red-ray flower petals with jagged or uneven yellow borders or tips. Some flowers come in solid colors like "Indian Yellow" with pure gold-yellow flowers.
Mature Height/Width	Can grow between 2-4 feet high and 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
Plant Spacing	Plant on 1 to 1.5 foot centers so plants grow into adjacent plants to give good coverage for weed control. If weeds aren't an issue then 1.5 to 2 foot or more centers is fine.

 

Become a Plant Profile Club member here, if you want more blanket flower plant care information than this!

 

 

If you aren't sure where to start learning about gardening, go to our Start Here page where you can get find beginning gardener topics by listening, watching, and reading.

By the way, for a quick podcast related to this plant, check out Full Sun Perennials That Bloom All Summer.

 

Jump ahead to a specific section:

• How to grow and care for the Blanket flower in your yard
• Blanket flower companion plants
• Blanket flower seeds for sale

 

To prolong the life of your Blanket flowers throughout the summer months (maybe even into the fall), you need to deadhead them at the right time using the proper too.

 

 

 

Blanket Flower Care

 

You can find more of blanket flower care needs, when it flowers, its uses, and more by becoming a Plant Profile Club member.

 

Blanket Flower Companion Plants

Being a native plant from the central and western United States, this plant has a great ability to adapt to different climates and can be lower maintenance than most other landscape plants.

Therefore, Blanket flowers need to be planted next to full sun, drought-tolerant companions.

Companion plants to consider:

• Shasta daisies
• Echinacea
• Foxgloves
• Gloriosa daisies or Black-Eyed Susans
• Sunflowers
• New England Asters
• Ornamental grasses
• Lamb's ear
• Salvia
• Russian Sage
• Agastache
• Coreopsis

 

 

How To Plant Blanket Flower

We've included brief steps and tips for planting either seeds or live plants below.

First of all, not all seeds are created equal.

Our seed planting steps below are a guide for planting most seeds in general.

 

Blanket Flower Seed Planting Steps: 

1. Read the seed packet label and follow their directions.

2. Choose an area according to the plant's sunlight needs and water the soil first before planting.

3. Dig a trench at the recommended depth.

4. Place your seeds by planting one at a time according to the recommended spacing.

5. Lightly cover the seeds with the soil. According to the packet, firm down the soil as needed.

6. Water, water, water!

7. Wait for germination and then thin according to the packet directions for each seed.

Indian Blanket Seeds, Bi-Colored Red/Yello...

Indian Blanket Seeds - Gaillardia pulchella seed. Another delightful North American native... [More]

 

You can find more of blanket flower care needs, when it flowers, its uses, and more by becoming a Plant Profile Club member.

 

Blanket Flower Live Plants Planting Tips

If planting live Blanket flower plants, be mindful of plant spacing.

In general, plant the plants on 1 to 1.5-foot centers so the plants grow into adjacent plants to give good coverage for weed control.

If weeds aren't an issue then 1.5 to 2-foot or more centers is fine.

 

 

Blanket Flower: Why You Should Plant Them

First, what's not to love about these drought-tolerant perennials? They're colorful and need very little water.

These summer bloomers are perfect for perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, or containers.

With their full sun growth requirements, this beautiful plant will grace your garden year after year with its bright, daisy-like flowers.

And, they make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers.

In addition to their beauty, these hardy perennials are really easy to maintain.

Blanket flowers are a popular choice for xeriscape gardens because they do well in rocky soils and thrive with very little moisture.

With just a bit of deadheading for spent flowers, Blanket flowers will bloom throughout most of the summer months. For that reason, they are perfect for a beginner gardener, such as these two perennial species: Gaillardia aristata or Gaillardia x grandiflora.

Finally, Blanket flowers attract many kinds of pollinators. With their broad, daisy-like shape and bright color, pollinators cannot resist a visit.

Plus, they are also deer-resistant.

As you can see, this plant is a perfect addition to any drought-tolerant garden for so many reasons!

 

 

 

Blanket Flowers: History and Types

Asteraceae Family

Blanket flowers, or Gaillardia, are in the large Asteraceae family. Also known as the daisy family, this family group has more than 20,000 species of flowering plants throughout the world!

The daisy family features unique flowers that are actually made up of two types of flowers, not just one. Each flower you see in this family is actually composed of one or more rows of "Ray" flowers on the perimeter/edge and the "Disk" flowers in the center.

Daisy family members are valued for a range of uses, including:

• Cut flowers
• Cooking oils
• Herbal teas
• Other medicinal uses

Other members of the large Asteraceae family include Shasta daisies, sunflowers, zinnias, chrysanthemum, and lettuce.

Blanket Flower History

Blanket flowers, also called Indian Blanket flower or Firewheel, are native to North America and have historical significance in Native American history.

Partially, this plant gets its name from its spreading habit as the flowers can wrap a landscape with their super bright colors.

Officially, the genus, Gaillardia, was formally named after an 18th-century French botanist named M. Gaillard de Charentonneau.

Botanist Frederick Pursh described this species for science in his monumental Flora Americae Septentrionale published in 1814.

One Native American legend tells the story of a little girl who's father, a brave returning from war, found her covered in flowers of the bright red and orange colors. The same colors as a blanket that was woven by her mother when her father left. From that time on, the flowers were called Indian blanket flower.

One fun fact is that Texas State University school colors were inspired by the Blanket flower colors of maroon and gold.

Today, you can find Blanket flowers mostly used as ornamental plants in all types of gardens.

 

 

 Blanket Flower Seeds For Sale (And Books!!)

 

Plus, when you get to the Eden Brothers checkout, because we are affiliates (which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you which helps us run our website and podcast), use our special coupon code "SPOKEN" for an extra 15% off your order!! 

First, enter SPOKEN into their coupon code box (just like the first photo). You will know you received the coupon if you see the "coupon applied" notice (see the second photo).

 

Summer-Blooming Perennials Flower Books

If you’re looking for further educational resources, these books below are the perfect reference book to educate you about butterflies.

The first book is our new eBook which we’re so excited to show you! The two books below that can be found on Amazon at the links below.

Four-Season Gardening

If you want to create a four-season garden featuring specific, beautiful plants that bloom during specific seasons, look no further.

In Four-Season Gardening, our new eBook on sale until August 5th, we’ll teach you plant care for 15 seasonal plants and seasonal gardening tips that could be the difference between a thriving garden and a ho-hum garden. Check it out!

American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

This is a great reference guide for tons of plants from the American Horticultural Society.

Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms

This book has stunning images, how-tos, and planting information to grow your own cutting garden.

Or, if you need to shop for other garden plants for this summer or fall, click here to find what you need!

 

 

Blanket Flower Plant Conclusion

As you have read above, the Blanket flower is a perfect addition to any garden for so many reasons.

Whether you want to attract pollinators, plant a drought-tolerant garden, or enjoy the vibrant summer flowers, this plant would make a great addition to your garden!

Now it is time to hear from you!

What more do you want to learn about Blanket flowers? Do you have any questions that still need answering?

Leave a quick comment below and let us know!

 

Well, that's all for now.

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoyed our Blanket flower plant profile.

Want to learn about other plants in your garden? Check out some of our previous plant profiles:

• Shasta Daisy: A Gardener's Guide and Plant Profile
• Primroses: A Gardener's Guide and Plant Profile
• The Gardener's Guide to Dianthus
• Grape Hyacinth: A Gardener's Guide and Plant Profile
• Sunflowers: A Gardener's Guide and Plant Profile

 

See you in the garden!

~ Sean and Allison

 

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Blanket Flower Plant References: 

• "Blanket Flower" - USDA Fact Sheet
• "Blanket Flower" - Better Homes & Gardens
• "School Colors" - Texas State University
• "Firewheel: A Native Wildflower Favorite Rich in Legend and Lore" - Nature's Seed

 

 

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Learn all about the Blanket Flower in this gardener's guide and profile of this beautiful plant, including plant care, companion plants, and more.