Gaillardia pulchella
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Blanket flower grows 1–2 feet tall, bursting with daisy-like blooms in vivid red, orange, and yellow from early summer into fall. Its cheerful, sun-loving flowers bring nonstop color and a touch of wild whimsy to the garden.
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Thrives in full sun and sandy, well-drained soils, with excellent drought tolerance once established. It’s a low-maintenance annual or short-lived perennial that prefers lean soils and dry conditions.
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A compact, free-flowering plant that self-seeds easily without being pushy, it’s perfect for meadow plantings, borders, or filling in gaps with color. It blooms quickly and generously, even in tough spots.
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Native to the south-central U.S., especially the Great Plains and Gulf Coast, and now naturalized in many states. Found in sandy prairies, coastal dunes, and open fields.
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Foliage appears in spring, followed by a long, colorful bloom period stretching into fall. Spent blooms age into fluffy seed heads that persist into early winter and add texture.
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Provides abundant nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and native bees, and is especially attractive to long-tongued pollinators. Birds may feed on the seeds in fall and winter.
Blanket flower