Gaillardia aristata
Blanket Flower · Common Blanketflower
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
- Habit
- Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
- Height
- 1-3 ftPlant Finder
- Height
- 2.0 ftPLANTS Database
- Spread
- 1-2 ftPlant Finder
- Flower
- Showy, good cut; yellow rays with a brownish-purple diskPlant Finder
- Flower
- YellowPLANTS Database
- Blooms
- May to OctoberPlant Finder
- Blooms
- SpringPLANTS Database
- Native range
- Northwestern North AmericaPlant Finder
- Native range
- Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
- Hardiness zones
- 3-8Plant Finder
- Note
- Roots rot in soil that does not drain, especially through a wet summer.Plant Finder
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sunPlant Finder
- Sun
- Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
- Soil
- Average, dry to medium, well-drainedPlant Finder
- Moisture
- Dry to mediumPlant Finder
- Moisture
- Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
- Watering
- Dry to mediumPlant Finder
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.
This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Low
Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.
100% germination in 3–6 days.
Fresh seed or six months' dry storage at 70 or 40 -- it made no difference.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Low
Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
60% germinated at 40 itself, in 2-8 weeks.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
A further 40% in 1-3 days after the move.
No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.
60% germination in 14–56 days.
Slower and no better than sowing straight at 70.
This source doesn't state how long.