Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Red Sun’ (Blanket Flower)

Compact and free-flowering, Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Red Sun’ (Blanket Flower) is a bushy, often short-lived herbaceous perennial noted for its rich, orange-red flowers adorned with broad petals and yellow tips. Blooming from early summer into fall, the daisy-like flowers cover the compact mound of fresh gray-green foliage. Rich in nectar, the flowers are real magnets for butterflies. Drought and heat tolerant, this Blanket Flower requires little care once established. Ideal for containers, beds, and borders.

• Easily grown in a compact mound up to 10-14 in. tall (25-35 cm) and 20 in. wide (50 cm).
• Thrives in full sun, in average, medium, well-drained soils, in rocky or sandy places. Although dry soils tolerant, it prefers moist soils, but good drainage is essential!
• Easy care plant with few insect or disease problems. Rarely eaten by deer.
• A wonderful addition to the garden, this enthusiastic bloomer is well suited to perennial borders, containers, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, or cutting gardens. Makes excellent cut flowers.
• Easy to grow from seed in the garden after the last frost or indoors 4-6 weeks earlier.
• Remove faded flowers to encourage further blooms.
• Blanket flowers are often relatively short-lived. Cutting back clumps to 6 in. in late summer (15 cm) often increases their chances of winter survival. You can also keep your plants vigorous by dividing them every 2-3 years in spring or early fall.