Gaillardia Pulchella is a plant with beautiful, fragrant flowers that blooms from July to August. The plant is native to the desert Southwest, and its bright yellow flowers are sometimes called Indian Blanket. They are sometimes used as cut flowers, but they are also popular with bees and butterflies. Zinnia elegans belongs to the Asteraceae family as well. Learn more about it.
It is an annual herb that grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. In its native habitat, it grows in clay loam and rocky soils or gravelly loam. In most climates, Gaillardia Pulchella will flourish all year round if it receives enough water and fertiliser, but it does prefer full sun for the best growth. Gaillardia Pulchella prefers moist soil but does tolerate dry conditions as well.
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Gaillardia Pulchella: Quick facts
| Botanical name | Gaillardia Pulchella |
| Common name | Indian Blanket |
| Genus | Gaillardia |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Clade | Tracheophytes |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life cycle | Annual herb |
| Mature size | 24–36 inches in height, 12–24 inches in width |
| Cultivation | North America and Mexico |
| Benefits | Ornamental plant |
See also: All about Zinnia elegans
Gaillardia Pulchella: Genus
Gaillardia Pulchella belongs to the genus Gaillardia, which is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. This genus comprises plenty of annual and perennial herbs and shrubs, many of which are renowned for their ornamental use.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Native habitat
Native to North America, Gaillardia Pulchella are prolific on the barrier islands and grow widely in the soft sand along beach walkways. These flowers are thoroughly naturalised from North Carolina to Florida. It is commonly found in dry open places with sandy soils like Minnesota and Virginia.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Sun tolerance
Gaillardia Pulchella has a high tolerance to sun. In fact, it thrives in full sunlight. Although, it can also tolerate partial shade. Also, Gaillardia Pulchella has high drought tolerance.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Mature height
When fully mature, Gaillardia Pulchella plants grow up to a height of 36 inches at most.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Leaves
Gaillardia Pulchella has simple oblong leaves with a length of 1-3 inches. The edges of the leaves feature tiny teeth and a hairy underside.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Leaf colour
The leaves of Gaillardia Pulchella are an attractive shade of grey-green, sometimes tinged with a slight silverish shade.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Cold tolerance
Gaillardia Pulchella are frost tolerant and can survive in temperatures down to -20° F. They might benefit from snow cover or mulching during extremely cold winters.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Self-pruning characteristic
Gaillardia Pulchella does not self prune. They require quite heavy pruning to encourage heavy flush of growth. It’s advisable to cut back the entire plant by nearly one-third its height after flowering decreases.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Fruit
The fruit of Gaillardia Pulchella is an achene. It is hairy, pyramidal, and prolonged by a pappus 5-8 mm in length.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Physical description
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Gaillardia Pulchella is a plant that grows in the Americas and parts of Asia. It is an annual plant that grows up to 36 inches tall. The petals of the flowers are brightly coloured yellow or orange. The edges of the leaves feature tiny teeth and a hairy underside.
Gaillardia Pulchella: How to grow?
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Gaillardia Pulchella is a beautiful plant that is also known as gaillardia, pink daisy, and Indian Blanket. It is an annual wildflower that can be grown indoors or outdoors.
You can cultivate Gaillardia Pulchella in your house since it has no known toxic effects. During the winter, you can plant your seeds indoors, and when springtime comes, you can move them outside.
Plant the seeds in a container and add water. Until germination happens, which could take up to two weeks, keep the soil moist.
Once the seedlings emerge, remove them from their containers and plant them in a sunny spot outdoors. Gaillardia Pulchella thrive in full sun, although they can also be planted in partial shade.
The seeds will germinate quickly once planted about one week after planting. So make sure to give them plenty of time before planting your plants into the garden or landscape.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Care tips
When you’re looking after Gaillardia Pulchella, there are a few things you’ll want to do regularly to keep your plant healthy.
Make sure that you water your Gaillardia Pulchella at least once every two weeks. This is especially important for indoor plants like this one, which doesn’t have the ability to absorb moisture from the soil.
Secondly, make sure that your Gaillardia Pulchella receives enough sunlight each day. It won’t hurt them if they don’t get direct sunlight all day long; just try not to let them sit in the shade.
And thirdly, don’t forget about fertilisation. Fertilise Gaillardia Pulchella twice every week.
Gaillardia Pulchella: Uses
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- The flower’s fragrance is reminiscent of honey, which attracts bees and other insects that pollinate it.
- Gaillardia Pulchella can also attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. The fruits are eaten by birds and other animals who feed on them.
- The plant species Gaillardia Pulchella is widely commercialised for its ornamental properties.
- Native Americans have utilised Gaillardia Pulchella as medicine for antispasmodic, sedative, emetic, and purgative purposes.
- An annual herb with a fast growth rate, Gaillardia Pulchella is well suited for the colonisation of disturbed areas, waste grounds, gardens, abandoned farms, coastal forests, etc.
FAQs
Which insect is attracted by the Gaillardia Pulchella flower?
The Gaillardia Pulchella flower, which is native to Mexico and the central United States, attracts butterflies because of its heat-loving nature and taste.
What is the meaning of the name blanket flower?
It may have been named blanket flower because the flowers resemble brightly patterned Native American blankets of similar colours.
