Gaillardia Aristata - Blanketflower - A Perennial Flower For Your Garden © 2006

Gaillardia Gaillardia aristata x grandiflora Compositae family - Daisy Blanketflower Perennial to USDA Zone 4 Full Sun Gaillardia was named after Gaillard de Marentonneau in 1786 who was a French magistrate and patron of botany. It originated in the prairies of North America and was introduced into Europe in 1812. Gaillardia is a very showy, popular plant for the perennial flower garden. They are called blanketflower because of the size of the blooms, often up to three inches or more in diameter. The plants grow anywhere from eight to thirty six inches in height. In my southeastern Indiana garden blanketflowers get about twelve inches height. The flowers are a mixture of red, yellow and some shades of brown on a single flower. They are an intriguing looking flower. Gaillardia needs well drained soils to be reliably hardy. Since my garden is on a hill, the plants usually over winter fairly well, though I do tend to lose some in our heavy clay soil.