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Do You Know About The Blanket Flower?
By Fergus | May 30, 2007
The story of the Blanket flower began with the generosity of a French judge of the 1700’s, by the name of Gaillard de Charentonneau. He was a benefactor of the study of botany, and as such received the honor of having a genus of plants named after him. That genus was Gaillardia, the common “blanket flower”.
Native to North America, this flower is easy to grow and drought tolerant. Blanket flower is perennial and grows well even in sandy soils by the sea. As its name implies,it has a tendency to blanket the landscape with profuse flowering.
There are dozens of varieties, in white, cream, yellow, orange, rust and maroon bi-color shades. You can plant a spectacular bed, choosing varieties of contrasting shades of blue and white suited to the same conditions. Yarrow, baby’s breath, cornflower and perovskia are good candidates for a striking bed of color.
Given a spot in a sunny location and good drainage, this plant will flourish. Blanket flower can be a staple in perennial borders, beds, and with some varieties, in containers. There are upright varieties growing from 18 to 24 inches tall, as well as compact, spreading varieties that don’t exceed 12 inches. If your garden is in a zone with harsh, hot summers and your soil is less than perfect, as long as you have good drainage, the blanket flower is a good choice for a low-maintenance perennial display. If you do not have good drainage, consider adding a good portion of sand to that clay soil and you’ll have what it takes to have the best display in the neighborhood.
Taller blanket flowers make excellent, long lasting cut flowers. Even the compact varieties may be used as cut flowers in shallow vases.
If you are, as most gardeners, already planning next summer’s flower beds, thinking ahead saves you a lot of money and provides a comforting “gardening fix” during the early months of spring. The blanket flower is relatively easy to propagate, provided you follow a few simple rules. If you’re planting from seed, start your seedlings two months to ten weeks before your last expected frost. Do not cover the seeds, as the blanket flower requires both light and warmth to germinate. Pick up a plastic germinating dome from your nursery supply, along with a heating pad. Direct seed, and keep them at a temperature between 65 and 72 degrees. If you don’t want to bother with the heating pad, the top of your refrigerator may do just fine. In two to three weeks, you’ll have seedlings. After planting in the garden when the weather has warmed, the blanket flower requires little care and minimal fertilizing.
To promote prolific blooms, deadhead spent blooms. You’ll extend the flowering season.
The blanket flower is the solution for gardeners desiring a beautiful garden display that comes back year after year and “toughs out” harsh conditions. Too good to be true? No, the blanket flower fills the bill when it comes to difficult landscaping.
Tags: flower gardens, flower gardening, cut flowers, blanket flower
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