Beach Daisy
Gaillardia aristata (gay-LAR-dee-uh ar-is-TAH-tuh)
Blanketflower is a showy, native, herbaceous perennial, wildflower found in meadows, grasslands, or prairies in the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest of the United States and portions of Canada. The plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, with an erect stem and a solitary, daisy-like flowerhead with yellow or reddish-purple petal rays and a reddish-purple center disk. The leaves are grayish-green, lance-shaped, and are arranged along the stem and at the base of the plant. The stems and leaves have fuzzy hairs, and the fruit has stiff bristles. Blanketflower is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). The genus name, Gaillardia , honors a French botanist, Gaillard de Charentonneau. The specific epithet aristata is Latin, meaning "bearing bristles." This refers to the plant's stiff and hairy stems and leaves. This taprooted perennial grows well in hot, dry sites in full sun but may need supplemental water during extended drought conditions. It adapts well to a range of soil types and is tolerant of a pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It can be propagated by seeds or division. The flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and the seed heads attract birds. Consider the blanketflower for a border planting, cottage garden, or rock garden. This wildflower is available as a container plant at nurseries specializing in native plants, and a hybrid of G. aristata and G. pulchella may also be purchased commercially. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect problems. Susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, and aster yellows. Overwatering or poor drainage may cause root rot. Protective gloves are recommended to prevent skin irritation from the fuzzy hairs. Beware that the blanketflower easily re-seeds and can become weedy. More information on Gaillardia .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 65 attributes.
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