Gaillardia pulchella

blanket-flower, gaillardia, Indian blanket

Nomenclature

Common Name:

blanket-flower, gaillardia, Indian blanket

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Gaillardia pulchella

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

.75 to 1.5 ft tall by .5 to 2.0 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,orange,red

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Cultivated flower beds, roadside wildflower plantings, wildflower garden. Typically grown as an annual though some plants may persist for several years.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

7.0 to 8.5

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds

Attracts many pollinators including native bees, honeybees, butterflies, butterflies and wasps.

Birds that eat the seeds include chickadees, titmice, and warblers.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites, often near the coast.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The Kiowa Indians believed the flowers brought luck. The Acoma and Laguna Indians rubbed the plant on mothers' breasts to wean infants, and believed an infusion of the plant improved a drummer's skills.

General Comments:

It is difficult to know the native range of this plant in Florida as it has been widely planted on roadsides across much of the state at least since the 1700s.