Gaillardia pulchella (Fire Wheel)

Scientific Name

Gaillardia pulchella Foug.

Common Name(s)

Fire Wheel, Indian Blanket, Indian Blanket Flower, Blanket Flower, Rose Ring Blanket Flower, Rose Ring Gaillardia, Sundance, Annual Gaillardia

Synonym(s)

Gaillardia drummondii, Gaillardia neomexicana, Gaillardia picta, Calonnea pulcherrima, Gaillardia bicolor, Gaillardia lobata, Gaillardia scabrosa, Gaillardia villosa, Galordia alternifolia

Scientific Classification

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Gaillardia

Flower

Color: Red, orange and yellow
Bloom Time: Summer to early fall

Description

Gaillardia pulchella is a cheery, brightly colored annual, with branching, hairy, upright, up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall stem. Leaves are alternate, mostly basal, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long, with edges smooth to coarsely toothed or lobed. The pinwheel, daisy-like inflorescences are up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, vividly colored with red, orange, and yellow. The central disc florets of the flower head tend to be more red-violet, with the outer ray florets being yellow. The plant blooms practically year-round in some areas, but more typically in summer to early fall. The seeds are achene.

How to Grow and Care

Sow seeds into well-draining soil and cover them slightly. Although drought tolerant once established, the care of Blanket Flowers includes keeping the seeds moist until germination occurs. Once established, occasional watering should become a part of Blanket Flowers' care. This assists in a longer display of colorful blooms.

Care of Gaillardias includes planting in a full sun location to keep this fast-growing specimen happy. As a native plant to the central United States and Mexico, Blanket Flower is a heat-loving flower that attracts butterflies. Growing Blanket Flowers are drought tolerant and do not like wet feet from soggy soil.

Growing Blanket Flowers can naturalize in a meadow or field, adding hues of color. The easy care of Blanket Flowers makes them an ideal specimen for many landscape uses.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Blanket Flowers.

Origin

This species is native to the Central United States.

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