How to Grow Gaillardia Pulchella

Also called blanket flower or Indian blanket flower, gaillardia's striking daisy-like bloom in orange, gold and yellow has distinctive markings reminiscent of Southwestern Native American weaving. This annual thrives in poor soils with little water and reseeds easily, making it a popular wildflower.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Hand Cultivators
• Mulch
• Plants
• Seeds
• Watering Cans
• Seeds
• Plants

1. Check the plant label carefully. Both annual and perennial types of gaillardia are available. Annual gaillardia has the advantage of blooming for a longer period of the summer and costing less per plant.

2. Plant in a spot with full sun. Gaillardia also likes hot, dry weather and tolerates a wide variety of soils.

3. Trim spent blooms to encourage further flowering.

4. Fertilize once when flowering begins, also to encourage further flowers.

5. Pull up and discard plants in autumn, once frost has felled the plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Try leaving the spent flowers on annual gaillardia. The plant often will self-seed in many climates.
• Gaillardia does well where it's hot and dry but not where it's hot and humid, such as in the Southeast.