Indian Blanket Flower

Description:  Native to most of North America, Indian Blanket Flower is a showy annual or short-lived perennial boasting 2 in. daisy-like flower heads with a brownish-red center disk surrounded by red and orange rays with yellow tips. Blooming from summer through fall, the flowers provide continuous color in the garden or containers. They are borne atop hairy branching stems that are mostly leafless at the top. The alternate leaves, up to 3 in. long may be entire or somewhat toothed. Rich in nectar, the flowers attract many pollinators, including native bees, and butterflies. Birds love the seed heads. An important wildflower of the prairies and meadows, Gaillardia pulchella, is easy to grow, heat and drought-tolerant, and requires little care. It reseeds readily and can form dense colonies. This species is a short-lived perennial in warm, coastal areas. For more information see: plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gaillardia-pulchella

Care and Growing Tips:  This pretty annual wildflower is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It thrives in sandy soils and dry summer heat, and tolerates poor, rocky, dry soils. Space plants 12 in. apart. Deadheading spent flowers is not necessary but will tidy the planting and may encourage additional bloom. Reseeds in optimum growing conditions if flowers are not deadheaded. Once established it does not need to be watered and it thrives in poor depleted soils so no fertilizer is needed.