Gaillardia (Grandiflora)

Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) is a long-blooming native wildflower that is easy-to-grow and provides ample nectar for butterflies. It's resistant to browsing rabbits and deer.

Preferred growing conditions:

• Needs sandy/gravely and sandy loam type soils. Avoid clay.
• Does best with gravel mulches.
• After their second growing season, only requires deep but infrequent watering. Too much water makes them floppy and shortens their lifespan.
• Plant in full, hot sun.
• Adding just a few handfuls of compost and Yum Yum Mix in the planting hole is enough. Don't plant into a rich, highly-amended soil.

Special comments:

• Deadhead plants to prolong bloom. Leave a few seed heads on the plants to encourage re-seeding.
• Blanket Flowers are generally grown from seed and are short lived perennials (3-4 years) and gardeners should replace them with new plants when the old plants lose vigor.