How to Grow & Care for Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Blanket Flower Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing blanket flowers.

• Plant blanket flowers in full sun.
• Put blanket flowers in poor, but well-draining soil; avoid planting this flower in clay soil.
• Water to moisten the soil, but do not oversaturate.
• Blanket flower tolerates temperature extremes.
• Avoid feeding blanket flowers fertilizer or go light on food.

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.

Here are other popular types:

• Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’: A 2005 All-America Selections Winner, these 3- to 4-inch flowers have a red center surrounded by yellow.
• G. ‘Burgundy’: These flowers feature wine-red petals with a yellow center disk that ages to burgundy.
• G. ‘Fanfare’: This variety produces trumpet-shaped flowers with shades from soft red through yellow and radiate from a rosy center disk.
• G. ‘Goblin’: This is a very hardy variety with large green leaves that are veined in maroon.
• G. ‘Mesa Yellow’: The 2010 All-America Selections Winner is known for its striking yellow flowers.

Pruning

Blanket flowers do not require deadheading to keep blooming, but the plants will look better and be fuller if you cut the stems back when the flowers start to fade. If the plant languishes in the heat of summer, cutting it back dramatically may reinvigorate it for good fall blooming.

Propagating Blanket Flowers

There are seeds for many Gaillardia x grandiflora varieties. You can sow them in the spring, but they won’t flower the first year. Get a head start by sowing in late summer and protecting the young plants over the winter. Since the plants can be short-lived and hybrids don’t grow true from self-seeding, it is best to divide the plants every two to three years in the spring or fall to try to keep them going. Follow these steps to divide blanket flowers:

1. Use a spade to dig a circle about 6 to 8 inches around the mound of blanket flowers that need dividing. Dig down about a foot to release the root ball.
2. Lift the root ball from the soil using the spade. Shake the root ball slightly to remove dirt from the roots.
3. Gently tease roots apart with your fingers or use a sterile, sharp knife to divide them into two or three clumps, each with a few shoots of foliage.
4. Replant divisions in a prepared area that will allow the roots to spread.
5. Cover roots with soil and immediately water deeply to moisten the roots and encourage good root development.
6. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, until you see the plant is no longer stressed. Then cut back on watering as you would with established blanket flowers.

How to Grow Blanket Flowers From Seed

Direct sow blanket flower seeds well after the last frost (or in the fall if your winters are mild) to yield the best results. Take these steps to sow seeds outdoors.

• Lightly rake soil but it is not necessary to amend it.
• Scatter seeds over soil. There is no need to cover the seeds as they need light to germinate.
• Keep the soil moist but not oversaturated.
• Seeds will germinate in seven to 20 days.

Take these steps to sow seeds indoors:

• Sow indoors four to six weeks before the last frost.
• Put seeds in seedling trays with seed starting mix but do not cover. The seeds need plenty of bright light to germinate.
• Lightly mist the soil and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• Thin out the seedlings (if necessary) 6 to 12 inches when they grow their true leaves.
• Transplant seedlings in the spring when temperatures stay above 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Potting and Repotting Blanket Flowers

If you have very rich or poorly draining clay garden soil, it’s best to plant blanket flowers in containers with plenty of drainage holes. Fill a large container with a loose and well-draining potting mix. Potted plants typically need more water than garden plants and blanket flower is no exception even though they are drought-tolerant. If your container is in full sun and it’s hot, your blanket flowers may benefit from a daily drink of water.

Overwintering

In cooler climates, protect your overwintering blanket flowers with a thick layer of mulch.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Blanket flower plants are susceptible to aster yellows, a virus-like disease that stunts their growth and causes the flowers to become green. Plants that contract aster yellows should be destroyed. They will not recover and the disease can continue to spread. ​

Aster yellows are spread by leaf-hoppers and aphids. Natural predators, like ladybugs, can ward off pests. If there are not enough predators, spray the plant with insecticidal soap.

How to Get Blanket Flowers to Bloom

Bloom Months

Blanket flowers are long bloomers, lasting from early summer through the fall months.

What do Blanket Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Blanket flowers have daisy-like petals with bright hues that look like a tapestry of color. Depending on the type, the flower can be arranged with single or double petals in various shapes (pointed, fringed, or tubular). The flowers and foliage may be somewhat fragrant, with a more spicy than sweet scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Do not overwater your blanket flowers and although it’s not mandatory, deadheading will usually stimulate additional blooms. Blanket flowers in the shade will not flower very well.

Common Problems With Blanket Flowers

Blanket flowers are fairly foolproof if planted in any well-drained soil in a full-sun location. However, watch for these signs of problems.

Legginess

Leggy blanket flowers are probably growing in too much shade. Dig them up and transplant them to a sunnier spot.

Drooping, Dry Stems

If your blanket flowers droop and feel dry and crispy, they probably need more water.