Blanket Flower - Gaillardia aristata

Phonetic: gay-LAR-dee-uh ar-iss-TAY-tuh

Blanket flower, is a sun-loving perennial native to much of North America’s prairies and open grasslands. It prefers full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soils. This species is highly drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for poor, sandy, or rocky soils where few other flowers flourish. Too much moisture or poorly drained soil can shorten its lifespan, as the plant dislikes consistently wet conditions. Its preference for full sun and dry soils mirrors its native habitat and helps it produce its most vibrant blooms.

Blanket flower forms clumps of hairy, gray-green leaves at its base and sends up sturdy, branched stems reaching 1 to 2 feet tall. The flower heads are striking—large daisy-like blooms with red to orange centers surrounded by petals tipped in yellow, creating a warm, “sunset” effect. It typically blooms from early summer into fall, offering months of color. Blanket flower spreads modestly by self-seeding rather than by rhizomes, allowing it to naturalize gently in garden settings. Its tough nature and long bloom period make it a standout in wildflower meadows and low-maintenance beds.

Blanket flower is an important nectar source for a wide range of native pollinators, including sweat bees, butterflies, and even some hummingbirds. It attracts butterflies such as the painted lady, which also uses it as a larval host plant. The long flowering season provides continuous food for pollinators during the warmer months. In gardens, it’s ideal for pollinator gardens, borders, and rock gardens. Its tolerance for heat, drought, and poor soils—combined with its brilliant, cheerful flowers—makes it perfect for gardeners seeking a resilient, colorful, and ecologically valuable addition to sunny landscapes.

• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Dry
• Flower Color: Red, Yellow
• Bloom Time: June, July, August, September
• Mature Plant Size: 2-2.5'H, 2'W
• Plant Spacing: 18'
• Host Plant: Schinia Masoni Painted Lady
• Attracts: Bees, Butterflies
• Advantages: Deer resistant, drought tolerant, easy to grow, long season of blooms
• Landscape Uses: Cottage gardens, perennial orders, pollinator gardens, rock gardens, roadsides
• Companion Plants: Lance Leaf Coreopsis, Northern Blazing Star, Purple Coneflower
• Groundhog Resistant