Blanket Flower

The hybrid Gaillardias of to-day are a great advance upon those of former years. Among modern improvements are Aurora, Brilliant, Lady Rolleston, Monarch, Shirley, Sulphur Gem, Superb, Vivian Grey, and Yellow Prince. Gaillardias in many soils soon exhaust themselves by their flowering, and should be renewed periodically from seed, the seedlings being most vigorous and free. Named sorts may, however, be raised from root cuttings inserted from January to March in gentle heat.

All thrive in good friable garden soil, but not on a cold stiff soil or on one that is too light or dry. Where possible they should be grown in bold groups, for they thrive better if so placed than as solitary plants in a parched border, and no plants have a finer effect in a bed by themselves. Where apt to die in winter, they may be used in mixed borders, if treated as half-hardy annuals; for if sown in a mild hot-bed at the end of February or the beginning of March, they may be grown into good plants, and give a full display of their fine flower-heads as early as those that have withstood the winter in the borders. It is well to note that these in many soils are not nearly so hardy or enduring as many of the perennials we have from N. America, and therefore cannot in cold soils be depended on.

The culture of the perennial Gaillardia is difficult, and the plant is seen best in bold groups, rather than small clumps here and there in the border. If established plants in pots are obtained in April and put out in the places they are to occupy about 2 feet apart each way, a good bloom may be expected the same season if the soil is well dug and mixed with well-decayed manure. Mr W. Kelway, of Langport, Somerset, in a note to The Garden on 27th January 1887, mentions that a collection planted in this manner bore the drought of the previous five years better than any other herbaceous perennial grown at Langport, and stood the winter so well that not 3 per cent. suffered. Some commend the Gaillardia for bedding, though it is seldom grown in this way, but a pretty effect is obtained when plants of one distinct variety, or shades of the same color, are put about 1 foot apart with the stems pegged down. The situation, however, where the Gaillardias remain out winter after winter must be warm, the soil not too heavy, but light and dry. In very cold and wet seasons in Midland counties the plants often succumb; but it is very easy in the autumn to strike cuttings, which may be taken off and treated similarly to the Pelargonium, or seeds raised in March, and the plants hardened off before putting out, will also give a quick return in the shape of flowers; or it may be increased by division in spring.

Blanket Flower's Pictures

lanceleaf blanketflower

Gaillardia ×grandiflora Van Houtte

Gaillardia ×grandiflora Van Houtte

Gaillardia pulchella

Gaillardia pulchella Foug. firewheel

Gaillardia pulchella Foug. firewheel

Related Flowers

Gaillardia Aristata

Gaillardia Aristata - A perennial 1 to 1 1/2 feet high, with narrow leaves, sometimes deeply cut. The flowers are 1 1/2 to 4 inches across, the ray florets having an outer zone of orange-yellow and an inner one of brownish-red, while the centre is deep bluish-purple. It is the commonest kind, and having been raised largely from seed, has many varieties, differing more, or less widely from the type, with various names.

Gaillardia Grandiflora

Gaillardia Grandiflora - Said to be a hybrid, presumably between G. picta and G. aristata, is a beautiful and vigorous plant with large brightly-colored flowers, which are only surpassed by its variety maxima. It is by far the finest of all.