Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) is a beautiful and distinct western wildflower featuring a red center surrounded by petals of red with yellow tips. Blanket Flower is wonderful for providing long-lasting color and interest to dry garden beds or containers. It will usually bloom from June to September, and a fall bloom can be encouraged if the flowers begin to die back in the heat of summer by deadheading. These flowers are also a rich nectar source and attract all kinds of pollinators while the seeds are highly attractive to birds! Although Blanket Flower will prefer some soil moisture (and bloom more prolifically), it is very drought tolerant and will grow in dry soils. Avoid planting in heavy to poorly drained soils. This plant makes a lovely addition to prairie and meadow plantings, rock gardens, naturalistic plantings, containers, naturalistic beds and borders, and cottage or butterfly gardens
Photo Credit: David J. Stang