Blanket Flower (Organic)
Gaillardia arisata. Perennial in zones 3-10.
Beautiful, cheery, daisy-like flowers on long, sturdy stems are a great, longlasting cut flower. Blooms over a long season – even into November or December if autumn is mild. Flowers are red-orange in the center, petals have yellow tips. After each blossom is done flowering, the seed heads make beautiful little balls that look like balloons and also look nice in arrangements. Blanket Flower is a great low-maintenance addition to any perennial flower garden. It is deer resistant, drought tolerant, and prefers full sun. Plants will grow 1-2′ wide and flower stems reach to 3′ tall.
Direct sow 1/4” deep after danger of frost, or sow indoors for transplant 6 weeks before last frost. Thin/ transplant to 12”. Plants prefer full sun. Deadhead to prolong bloom and limit self-seeding.
Seed Saving
Collect seeds from seed heads that are fully dry. Shell by hand or by dancing, winnow to clean. Finish air-drying if necessary before sealing in airtight container. Some cross-pollination may occur. Isolate from other varieties of same species by 1/2 mile.
Janet (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Washington
This could very well be user error as I am a newbie gardener, but my gaillardia / blanket flower stems were very droopy. They had long stems that were not very upright. Even as seedlings the leaves were long and floppy / close to the soil. At first I thought the flowers were a bit too red for my taste but then over time I enjoyed how much they bloom if you just keep dead heading and they are striking – noticeable from a distance which is nice. I think I’ll try some other variety to see if I can get a more upright sturdy stem.
(0) (0) Watch Unwatch