Indian blanket flower is an erect annual or perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. The showy bicolored disc flowers have bold colors similar to those utilized by Native Americans in weaving blankets, hence the common name. Another meaning of the common name could be derived from the way the plant grows "blanketing" the ground. The genus name, Gaillardia, is in honor of 18th-century French botanist Gaillard de Charentonneau. The species epithet, pulchella, means "beautiful." These flowers are prolific on the barrier islands and will grow in the soft sand along beach walkways. They are now thoroughly naturalized from North Carolina to Florida, with North Carolina being its northern limit. Prefers full sun though it tolerates light shade and is tolerant of most garden soils as long as they drain well and get even moisture. Plant seed in the fall by direct sowing and lightly raking in. Provide constant moisture for good germination and they will grow 1 and half to 2 feet tall and about 1 foot wide. They are highly drought, heat, and salt tolerant. The show stopping orange and red flowers appear from summer to fall adding brightness to the landscape for a long season and the nectar attracts butterflies. If the seed heads are left over winter they will be enjoyed by songbirds. Indian blanket flower grows well in containers, or mass plant it for some amazing warm colors in your landscape. They work well in borders, in a cutting garden, or in a children's garden. Tuck it between small spaces in a rock or cottage garden, or let it naturalize in a meadow. Quick ID Hints : Erect herb with terminal, solitary heads Enlarged, tubular flowers, red with yellow apices Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems but watch for aphids and thrips. Indian Blanket Flower will not survive in water-logged soils. More information on Gaillardia .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗Reconciled to full toolbox: matched by slug to slug 'gaillardia-pulchella'. Identity (id/common/scientific name) preserved from the original 87-plant Hunnicutt set; attribute data refreshed from the 55-attribute toolbox scrape.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Showy long-lasting daisy-like flower heads appear from spring to the first frost. Flowers are orange-red rays with 3-toothed yellow tips 1"-2" across. Disk flowers in the center are purple-brown. A terminal head, solitary on elongate peduncles to 6" long, 1.5-2" diam.; receptable reddish to orangish-red pappus; involucral bracts green. Ray flowers to 3/4", few, red with yellow tips or red; disc flowers numerous, enlarged, tube funnel-shaped, red, lips yellow.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Displays from May to January
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Upright stems have few leaves toward the top
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central & S. U.S.A. to N. Mexico
Wildlife value
Nectar from the flowers attracts butterflies, seeds attract goldfinches so consider leaving seed heads after flowering.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Uses (ethnobotany)
Teas made from the plant helped gastro-instestinal problems, skin disorders, and bathing in the tea provided pain relief to nursing mothers. The Kiowa people believed the plant brought good luck.