| Botanical Name: | Gaillardia x grandflora |
| Life Cycle: | perennial |
| Planting Time: | spring or fall |
| Height: | dwarf from 8", full-sized 15" to 36" |
| Exposure: | full sun |
| Soil: | average, moist, well-drained soil; drought and salt tolerant |
| Hardiness: | zones 4 to 9 |
| Bloom Time: | summer |
| Flower: | shades of red, rust maroon and yellow |
| Foliage: | green |
| Propagation: | seeds, division in early spring, new growth cuttings (late summer), root cuttings (fall) |
| Suggested Use: | cut flowers, beds, borders, boulevards, and seaside gardens |
| Growing Hints: | Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date or sow them directly into the ground in spring. Seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them, simply press them into the surface of the soil. Advertisement |
| Interesting Facts: | Blanket Flowers are unlikely to survive winter in heavy clay soil because they are highly susceptible to root rot. Soil that is too rich in nutrients or over fertilized soil will result in floppy, short-lived plants. They tend to thrive in areas where nothing else seems to grow. |
Blanket flower is one of my favorites and very easy to grow. One mistake that I did make was to take seeds from my dwarf blanket flower and I planted them the next spring; the new flowers weren't dwarf at all and towered over the old flowers!
