Indian Blanket is a spirited annual wildflower that brings the warm colors of a southwestern sunset to any garden. Native to dry open places from Virginia to Arizona, this hairy annual grows 12 to 18 inches tall and produces showy daisy-like flowers in rich reds and yellows that bloom continuously from June through frost. Hardy in zones 2 through 11, it thrives on neglect, asking only for full sun and well-drained soil. These flowers reach harvestable blooms in just 60 days, making them rewarding for impatient gardeners, and they attract butterflies and birds throughout the season.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
18in H x 12in W
—
Low
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The flowers are genuinely luminous, reaching 2 inches across in shades of red and yellow that seem to glow in afternoon light. What makes Indian Blanket exceptional is its refusal to quit: it blooms prolifically from early summer straight through to frost, never requiring deadheading or fussing. It tolerates poor, dry soils that would exhaust other flowers, thrives in sandy earth and intense heat, and still manages to attract pollinators month after month without any special treatment.
Indian Blanket shines as a carefree annual for flower borders and containers. The bright red and yellow blooms work beautifully in medium to large container displays, and their compact height of 12 to 18 inches makes them natural choices for edging garden beds or naturalizing in meadow-like plantings. These flowers are also excellent for attracting pollinators to vegetable gardens and supporting local butterfly and bird populations throughout the growing season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seed indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date in soil kept at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the threat of frost has passed.
Set seedlings out in the garden after the last frost date, spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil.
Sow seed directly in the garden after the last frost date in full sun.
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“Gaillardia pulchella is a North American native, naturally occurring in dry open places with sandy soils across a wide range from Virginia to Minnesota and south to Florida, Arizona, and Mexico. The species has made its way into gardens throughout the country so thoroughly that Missouri botanist Julian Steyermark noted its populations there may be primarily the result of garden escape rather than strictly native populations. Its long journey from wild prairie to cultivated border reflects how gardeners have recognized and celebrated this wildflower's beauty and resilience across generations.”