Blanket Flower

Gaillarda pulchella

Size: 1 Gallon Availability

Flower
Max size: 1.5’ tall x 2’ wide
Average Size: 1.5′ tall x 2′ wide

Usually Moist, Moist to Dry, Very Dry
Clay, Loam, Sand
Sun, Part Shade
High salt tolerance

AKA: Firewheel, Annual Gaillardia

A short-lived perennial that self-seeds regularly. It blooms summer through fall with flowers that are yellow, orange, and red. Attracts many pollinators. Provides a nectar source for butterflies. Naturalized in Florida sometime in the 1700s. Makes a good cut flower for 2-5 days, and works decent for drying and pressing.

The Keres people would rub the flowers on mothers’ breasts to wean infants. They also considered them to be good luck charms, and would often decorate their house with them or carry them when doing important tasks and ceremonies.