Blanket Flower Plant Care

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Gaillardia genus. Blanket Flower is native to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Blanket Flower is also known as Indian Blanket, Gaillardia aristata, Gaillardia bicolor.

Blanket Flower displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Blanket Flower produces colorful daisy-like flowers in red, yellow, and orange hues.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Blanket Flower every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Blanket Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Gaillardia aristata tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Blanket Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining, sandy soil with some organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Blanket Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Blanket Flower every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, sandy soil with some organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Blanket Flower is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Blanket Flower can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Blanket Flower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Blanket Flower is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Blanket Flower can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to firewheel plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Blanket Flower is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Blanket Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Blanket Flower is native to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. In cooler regions, grow Blanket Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.