Plant of the Month – September
0Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora
- Plant Form: Perennial, ground cover
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall and wide
- Exposure: Full sun, part sun
- Bloom Time: Summer (June – August), Fall (September – November)
- Native to: Canada, Central U.S.
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to -30°F
Blanket Flower is a low, mounding, perennial prized for its long bloom season, brilliant flowers, and compact form. Native across much of the United States, its daisy-like flowers vary from yellow to gold, red, orange, or bronze depending on the variety, but variations abound from single-color to multi-color petals. Songbirds feed on the flower seeds, helping spread them to new garden sites, but plants can also spread by underground rhizomes. Butterflies and pollinators are attracted to its nectar. Flower production is best if plants are periodically deadheaded, but this reduces reseeding. Cut flowers are beautiful in indoor arrangements. Even after the petals drop off, the cone-like centers are nice in crafting fresh herb wreaths, and are used dried for other crafts. Recovers quickly in spring after winter frost. Besides being patio friendly, heat-loving, drought-tolerant, water-wise, and fire wise, Blanket Flower resists browsing by rabbits and deer, and tolerates most soils. Invite this cheery plant into your borders, beds, raised planters, containers, mass plantings, cutting gardens, wildlife gardens, and butterfly gardens.
Comments