Also called blanket flower, gaillardia blazes with bold red, orange, and yellow blooms from early summer through frost. One of the longest-blooming, most heat-tolerant perennials you can plant.
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Sunlight
Full sun, 6+ hrs
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Water
Low, drought-tolerant
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Type
Perennial (zones 3–10)
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Soil
Average to poor, well-drained
Growing Basics
Gaillardia is a perennial in Minnesota (zones 3–10) — extremely cold-hardy and heat-tolerant, a great combination for our climate.
Bloom time: Early summer through frost (June–October in Minnesota). Seed-grown plants often bloom in their first year, which makes them especially rewarding to grow.
Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily). It needs sun to bloom well and stay upright.
Soil: Average to poor, well-drained soil. Like most prairie natives, gaillardia actually does better without rich, fertilized soil. Excellent drainage is the most important factor — it will not tolerate wet or clay-heavy soil.
Transplanting: Plant in spring after the last frost. Plant at the same depth as in the pot.
Watering: Water to establish, then largely leave it alone. Gaillardia is very drought-tolerant. Overwatering and poor drainage are the most common causes of failure.
Fertilization: Not needed, and can be counterproductive. Lean soil is what this plant wants.
Perennial Notes
These plants were grown from seed this year and may well bloom this summer — gaillardia is one of the few perennials that often flowers in year one from seed.
Deadhead spent blooms to keep new flowers coming. Alternatively, let some go to seed at the end of the season for self-sown volunteers.
Cut back to a few inches in late fall or early spring.
Gaillardia is somewhat short-lived (3–5 years), but it self-seeds readily so there are usually new plants filling in. Divide in spring every 2–3 years to keep plants vigorous.
Deer-resistant and a great pollinator plant, especially for native bees.
