When to Plant Gaillardia: Spring Planting, Indoor Sowing, Drainage and Keeping Short-Lived Blanket Flowers Going

Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) are drought-tolerant daisies native to the Americas, with red, orange and yellow flowers from late spring to fall (NC State). Wisconsin counts 25 to 30 species. The common garden perennial, G. × grandiflora, is a hybrid of the perennial G. aristata and the annual G. pulchella, first made in a Belgian garden in 1857 (Wisconsin, NC State). Indian blanket (G. pulchella) is an annual or short-lived perennial in warm coastal areas (Wildflower Center, NC State).

When to plant gaillardia

Use our planting calendar to find your frost dates. The sources agree that cold-winter gardens should plant after frost and warm-climate gardens can sow in fall. They differ on how early to start seed indoors: Wisconsin allows 6 to 8 weeks for perennial types and 4 to 6 for annuals, the Almanac and UC Riverside 4 to 6 weeks, and the Wildflower Center 8 weeks for Indian blanket. Some plants may not flower the first year (Almanac), while the Wildflower Center says G. aristata may bloom by the end of its first season.

How to plant gaillardia

Wisconsin warns that the seedlings look like dandelions, so mark the rows. The Wildflower Center says Indian blanket seed raked into fall soil sprouts in 1 to 2 weeks, while seed of G. aristata germinates very unevenly and does not benefit from pretreatment. Self-sown hybrids vary from their parents (UC Riverside).

Watering, deadheading and dividing

• Water only when dry. The Almanac waters when the soil is dry 1 inch down and keeps plants away from irrigation; NC State calls it drought tolerant.
• Skip fertilizer. The Almanac uses none, and NC State says it needs little.
• Deadhead for more flowers. NC State and the Almanac deadhead for repeat bloom, and Wisconsin says it prolongs the plant's life. The Almanac uses hedge shears, or leaves some seed heads for birds.
• Divide every 2 to 3 years in spring or early fall to keep plants vigorous (Wisconsin, Almanac).
• Wear gloves. Wisconsin says compounds in the leaves can irritate skin, and the Wildflower Center notes the hairy foliage of G. aristata can too.

Gaillardia in containers

Wisconsin grows blanket flowers in containers where garden soil is heavy, because drainage decides whether they survive winter. Our reading is to use a pot with drainage holes and a gritty mix, water only when the top inch is dry, and move the pot against a sheltered wall or into an unheated garage if your winters are harsh (GardenPal reasoning).

Fall and winter

• Cut back in late summer. Wisconsin cuts plants to about 6 inches in late summer to improve winter survival.
• Leave old growth over winter and trim to 2 to 3 inches in early spring; the Almanac mulches 3 to 4 inches deep in cold areas.
• Leave seed heads for birds. NC State says goldfinches eat the seeds.

Pests and problems

Root rot in wet soil is the main problem (NC State, Almanac). NC State also lists leaf spot, powdery mildew, aster yellows, aphids, leafhoppers and thrips. UC Riverside says aster yellows, a virus-like disease, stunts growth and turns the flowers green, and that affected plants should be destroyed, and Wisconsin and the Almanac also list it. NC State calls blanket flowers deer and rabbit resistant and salt tolerant; the Almanac and the Wildflower Center say moderately deer resistant.

Gaillardia around the vegetable garden

Blanketflower is one of the aster-family flowers in our guide to flowers that attract beneficial insects. The Wildflower Center, citing the Xerces Society, credits Indian blanket with special value to native bees, and UC Riverside lists sweat bees and bumble bees among its visitors. It flowers for months in hot, dry spots, so plant it at the sunny edge of the plot rather than in watered beds (our reading). Wisconsin pairs it with coreopsis, coneflower, liatris, rudbeckia, yarrow and grasses; see coreopsis, coneflowers, liatris, black-eyed Susans and yarrow.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant blanket flower?

After the last spring frost (Almanac, Wisconsin). In warm climates you can sow seed in fall (Wildflower Center, UC Riverside).

When do I start gaillardia seeds indoors?

6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for perennial types (Wisconsin); the Almanac and UC Riverside allow 4 to 6 weeks. The seed needs light, so barely cover it.

Why did my blanket flower die after a year or two?

Hybrid blanket flowers live about 2 years on average and rarely survive winter in heavy, wet soil (Wisconsin, NC State). Good drainage, deadheading and a late-summer cutback help.

Should I deadhead gaillardia?

Yes, for more flowers and a longer life (NC State, Wisconsin). Leave a few seed heads if you want birds or self-sown seedlings.

Does gaillardia need fertilizer?

No. The Almanac uses none and NC State says it needs little; rich soil makes plants floppy (Wildflower Center).

Is blanket flower a perennial or an annual?

Both. G. aristata and the hybrid G. × grandiflora are short-lived perennials, and Indian blanket (G. pulchella) is mostly annual (NC State, Wildflower Center).