Blanket flower - Gaillardia grandiflora

Blanket flower is a cheerful ornamental garden perennial plant with large daisy like blossoms. This plant gets its name in areas where fields are filled with them. They 'blanket' the field in blooms. Produced above the clump of grey- green leaves, the blossoms of  blanket flower petals that may be solid colored shades of wine red, yellow, orange or peach. The petals of some are frilled, white others have a unique, tubular shape. They add a sizzle to the garden. They are used in flower arrangements as cut flowers. They last for many weeks. The size of plants range from 10-12 inches high and 12 inches wide.

Easy to grow, gaillardia usually is happy as long as it is growing in full sun. Well drained soil is preferred and drought conditions tolerated once the plant is established. They are adaptive to almost any soil condition as long as it is well drained.

How to grow Gaillardias:

Gaillardias propagated by seeds or by divisions

From seeds:

1) Sow seeds directly in to your flower garden and cover lightly with 1/8 inch of fine garden soil or potting soil. Gently sprinkle some water.
2) Seeds can take up to three weeks to sprout.
3)Thin or transplant seedlings, if needed, when they reach two inches height.
4) Add  a general purpose fertilizer when planting them, then once in a month after that.

From divisions:

1) Divide the plants by cutting back clumps to 6 inches.
2) Transplant the divisions in an other location in your garden.
3) Water them regularly until they become established.