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Gaillardia aristata
Gaillardia aristata Pursh
Common Gaillardia, Great Blanketflower, Blanketflower, Brown-eyed Susan
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: gaar
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Great blanket-flower is an erect, 2-4 ft. plant, with clasping, dandelion-like leaves. The inch-long petals have yellow, 3-toothed tips and dark red bases. These surround disc flowers which are the same color as the base of the petals. Tufts of hairs project from the seed-like fruits and the entire plant is covered with fuzzy hairs.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , CT , ID , IL , MA , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NM , NY , OR , SD , UT , WA , WI , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NT , SK
Native Distribution: B.C. to Sask., s. to n. OR (mostly e. of the Cascades), n. UT, CO & KS; also reported in CA
Native Habitat: Plains; prairies; meadows
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Well-drained, infertile soil.
Benefit
Warning: The plant's fuzzy hairs can cause a skin irritation in some susceptible people.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagated by seed, root division or separation of offsets. Plant untreated seed in spring or fall. Germination is extremely variable. Plants may flower by the end of the first season. Make root divisions in early spring, dividing the tap root verticaSeed Treatment: Seed treatment does not improve germination.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallySearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.4 - Research Update, Wild-Collecting Endangers Natives, Director's Report, Maryland ...Additional resources
USDA: Find Gaillardia aristata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Gaillardia aristata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Gaillardia aristata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-27Research By: TWC Staff