How to Grow & Care for Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Planting

Put blanket flowers in a hot, sunny spot in the spring after the last frost. If you live in a climate with mild winters, it's fine to plant blanket flowers in the fall. Plant seedlings about a foot apart or simply scatter seeds on raked soil.

Light

Give blanket flowers a space with full sun where they thrive best. Although blanket flowers can handle some partial shade, they will get a bit floppy and will not flower as profusely.

Soil

Do not amend the soil with rich matter because blanket flowers prefer poor soil. The plant is not particular about soil pH, but it does need well-draining soil. It will grow in somewhat moist conditions, but heavy clay soil will probably kill it.

Water

Check the soil of new plants frequently (every other day or so) to ensure the soil is moist but not soggy an inch below the soil line. Once established, gaillardia is extremely drought tolerant. It can go without watering unless there are extremely hot and dry conditions, then it's best to water the bed once or twice per week. Avoid overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

The blanket flower can survive hot temperatures, even in full sun. They do not require a humid environment and do better in hot, dry climates over cool, moist ones.

Fertilizer

Go easy or avoid fertilizing blanket flowers. Poor soils seem to encourage more flowering than rich soils.

Types of Blanket Flower

There are over two dozen species in the Gaillardia genus and most are native to some areas of North America. Gaillardia pulchella, which is native from the southeastern United States through to Colorado and south into Mexico, was cross-bred with Gaillardia aristata, a prairie flower, to create Gaillardia x grandiflora, which is the most common garden form.