Plant Profile: Gaillardia aristata (Common Blanket Flower)

💬 Description:

Gaillardia aristata is a hardy North American native that lights up the garden with flame-colored blooms in red, orange, and yellow. Its long bloom season and resilience to drought make it ideal for low-maintenance landscapes and restoration plantings.

🌿 Ideal Uses:

- Native and pollinator-friendly gardens

- Meadows and wildflower mixes

- Roadsides and erosion-prone areas

- Deer-resistant borders and waterwise landscapes

🌼 Plant Profile:

Botanical Name: Gaillardia aristata

Common Name: Common Blanket Flower

Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

USDA Zones: 3–9

Height × Width: 18–30" H × 12–24" W

Bloom Time:Early summer to early fall

Sun Requirements: Full sun

Soil Needs: Dry to medium, well-drained soils; tolerates poor or rocky soils

Water Needs: Low; drought-tolerant once established

Native Range: Western and central North America

Wildlife Value: Nectar source for bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects

✂️ Maintenance Tips:

Deadhead to prolong blooming and reduce reseeding. Cut back stems in fall if tidiness is desired. Avoid rich soils and overwatering—this plant thrives on neglect.

🌱 Design Notes for Gaillardia aristata:

Stunning when paired with blue or purple companions like *Penstemon*, *Lavandula*, or *Eryngium*. Use in sunny slopes, gravel gardens, or naturalistic settings where its bold flowers can shine.

More Information:

https://cwelwnp.usu.edu/westernnativeplants/plantlist_view.php?id=73&name=gaillardiaaristata