Create Your Garden

Gaillardia aristata (Great Blanket Flower)

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

Gaillardia aristata ,Common Gaillardia, Great Blanket Flower, Blanket Flower, Brown-eyed Susan, Red Flowers, Bicolor Flowers, Drought tolerant flowers, Salt tolerant flowers

A long-lived western native, Gaillardia aristata (Great Blanket Flower) is an erect perennial wildflower boasting daisy-like flower heads, 3 in. across (7 cm), with a red center disk surrounded by red rays with yellow tips. Blooming from late spring to fall, the flowers provide continuous color in the garden or containers. They are borne atop hairy stems with clasping, dandelion-like leaves. The rough-hairy, lance-shaped, alternate leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm), are entire to coarsely-toothed, or rarely pinnately divided. Rich in nectar, the flowers attract many pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Birds love the seed heads. An important wildflower of the prairies and meadows, Gaillardia aristata is easy to grow, heat and drought tolerant and requires little care. Gaillardia aristata looks best in naturalistic plantings and can be used as an ornamental specimen plant or a mass display in low xeriscape and water-wise gardens.

  • Grows up to 24-30 in. tall (60-75 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm). May reseed in optimum growing conditions.
  • Thrives in full sun, in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, organically rich, sharply drained soils, but tolerates dry soils and drought. Requires supplemental moisture only during extended hot, dry conditions.
  • A wonderful addition to the garden, this enthusiastic bloomer is well suited to beds and borders, containers, rock gardens, butterfly gardens, or prairies and meadows.
  • Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew, aster yellows, and fungal leaf spot diseases.
  • If flowering declines in the heat of summer, cut back to promote a fall bloom.
  • Propagated by seed, root division or separation of offsets. Plant untreated seed in spring or fall. Make root divisions in early spring. Plants raised from seed will not flower the first year.
  • Native from North Dakota to Colorado west to California and British Columbia.

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Gaillardia
Common names Blanket Flower, Gaillardia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, California, Northeast, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Not sure which Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Gaillardia pulchella (Indian Blanket)
Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Celebration’ (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia ‘Burgundy’ (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Sun Devil’ (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Red Sun’ (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Oranges and Lemons’ (Blanket Flower)

Recommended Companion Plants

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Achillea millefolium (White Yarrow)
Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Callirhoe involucrata (Purple Poppy Mallow)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

25 Types of Daisies You Should Grow
Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Gaillardia
Common names Blanket Flower, Gaillardia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, California, Northeast, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Not sure which Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Gaillardia aristata (Great Blanket Flower) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Gaillardia aristata (Great Blanket Flower) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone