The Blanket Flower, Gaillardia Pulchella
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
BLANKET FLOWER
Although many perennial gaillardias are also grown as annuals, this plant is a genuine one. It comes from Texas and adjoining states, where it covers the prairies in shades of red and yellow. Gaillardias, however, have been doctored so much that it is often difficult to recognize them as such. Double flowers are now quite common, and the petals are often bicolored and have sometimes become tubular in shape. This applies to, for example, Gaillardia pulchella ‘Red Plume’ with its deep red flowers, and to Gaillardia pulchella ‘Yellow Plume,’ which bears flowers in a strong shade of lemon yellow. At a height of 16 in, both are on the short side and therefore well able to withstand wind. Flowering plants are on sale in May and may then be planted out-of-doors immediately, either in a flower-bed, or in containers. Growers start sowing as early as January-February.
It is better for private gardeners to put off sowing until March or, better still, until April-May. It will then be possible to sow directly outdoors, where they will come into flower between the end of June and October. It is important to plant them in a sunny spot.