Blanket Flower
Gaillardia pulchella
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Indian Blanket, Firewheel, Gaillardia, Gaillardia drummondii, Gaillardia scabrosa, Gaillardia bicolor var. drummondii
Earthy & Warm · Summer–Autumn bloomer
Blanket flowers paint the landscape in sunset colors, daisy-form blooms in bands of red, orange, and yellow radiating outward from a dark center, resembling the colorful geometric patterns of Native American textiles. They bloom non-stop from early summer through frost, asking nothing but sunshine and well-drained soil.
modesty, hardiness, cheerfulness
In the Victorian language of flowers, blanket flower means “Cheerful resilience”. Named after French magistrate Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century botany patron. The common name 'blanket flower' comes from its resemblance to the colorful patterns of Native American woven blankets. Oklahoma designated it as state wildflower. It's one of the most reliable wildflowers for poor, hot, dry conditions where little else thrives.
Did You Know?
Blanket flowers are among the most salt-tolerant wildflowers, they thrive in coastal dunes where salt spray kills most plants. They're also deer-resistant, drought-proof, and heat-loving. The related perennial species (G. × grandiflora) was bred from crossing the annual G. pulchella with the prairie perennial G. aristata.
Prairies, coastal dunes, roadsides, and sandy soils across the US and Mexico
Blanket Flower is native to North America. It naturally grows in prairies, coastal dunes, roadsides, and sandy soils across the us and mexico.
Scent Profile
“Barely scented, a faint earthy, hay-like note from the foliage. Blanket flower's appeal is entirely visual: the warm sunset palette of its petals and its incredible toughness in harsh conditions.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameGaillardia pulchella
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToNorth America
- Bloom SeasonSummer–Autumn
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
Named after French magistrate Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century botany patron. The common name 'blanket flower' comes from its resemblance to the colorful patterns of Native American woven blankets. Oklahoma designated it as state wildflower. It's one of the most reliable wildflowers for poor, hot, dry conditions where little else thrives.