Wildflower/Perennial · Sonoran native
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia aristata · Asteraceae
Also called: Common Blanketflower, Great Blanketflower, Brown-eyed Susan (regional)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) is a low-water wildflower/perennial native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 12-24 in H x 12-24 in W in full sun.
Blanket Flower at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; needs maximum sun for best flowering and compact form.
- Mature size
- 12-24 in H x 12-24 in W
- Growth rate
- Fast; blooms quickly from seed or transplant.
- Bloom
- Daisy-like flowers in warm red, orange, and yellow bands, often red centers with yellow-tipped petals ('blanket' pattern)., Late spring through fall (April-October), with a long bloom period; heaviest in warm months.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about -20 to -30 F (USDA zones 3-10); fully hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Well-drained, sandy to loamy soil; tolerates poor, dry, rocky soils. Good drainage is essential; dislikes heavy wet soils.
- Native range
- Western and central North America, including Arizona; Gaillardia aristata is native to the western U.S. The closely related Gaillardia pulchella and hybrids (G. x grandiflora) are common in cultivation.
- Best used as
- Wildflower garden, Perennial border, Mass planting, Pollinator/butterfly garden, Naturalized areas, Cut flowers
- Wildlife
- Strong nectar source for butterflies and bees; seeds eaten by birds (especially finches). Deer-resistant.
- Toxicity
- Generally non-toxic; foliage can occasionally cause mild contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Not considered toxic to pets.
How to grow Blanket Flower in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established; water deeply and infrequently. In Tucson summers, irrigate roughly every 7-14 days; reduce in cooler months. Overwatering shortens lifespan and causes rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Very low fertilizer needs; thrives in lean soil. A light spring feeding is optional. Rich soil and excess nitrogen reduce flowering and produce floppy growth.
Pruning & care
Deadhead spent flowers to extend bloom and limit reseeding; shear back midseason if leggy to promote a second flush. Cut back in late winter to tidy clumps.
Notes
Short-lived perennial (often behaving as a biennial or self-seeding annual in the low desert) but reseeds readily. Many garden plants sold as 'blanket flower' are Gaillardia x grandiflora (G. aristata x G. pulchella) or G. pulchella; G. aristata is the perennial native parent. Tough, heat- and drought-tolerant, and very long-blooming.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; USDA PLANTS Database