Gaillardia pulchella

Common Names

Firewheel, Indian Blanket, Blanket Flower, Gaillardia

Summary

The plant is a North American native with a spreading growth habit, typically 1–2 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide. It features soft, hairy, alternate leaves that are oblanceolate or spatulate, and bears showy flower heads about 2–3 inches across with rays in yellow, orange, red, or bicolor and a dark central disk; blooming occurs from summer through fall, and butterflies are attracted to the blooms. It self-seeds readily.

For cultivation, it requires full sun and well-drained soils ranging from acidic to alkaline and from sand to loam; drought tolerance is high and salt tolerance good; spacing 12–18 inches; hardiness zones 3–11. It is suited to containers or above-ground planters, accents, mass plantings, ground covers, and dunes or beach settings, with additional use as cut flowers; propagation by seed or root divisions in early spring; avoid over-watering to prevent root rot.

Lifecycle

Annual, Perennial

Height

1-2 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Acidic to alkaline.

Bloom Color

Red and Yellow

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds are attracted.