Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers, gaillardia is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing gaillardia, also known as blanket flower.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Gaillardia Belong To?
Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.) belongs to the Asteraceae family, also known as the daisy family.
Some of its relatives include sunflowers, lettuce, and feverfew.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Gaillardia?
The minimum container depth recommended for gaillardia is 10 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Gaillardia?
Some of gaillardia's best companions are as follows:
- Ice plant
- Echinacea
- Yarrow
- Lilies
- Chocolate daisy
- Aster
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Mints like peppermint and spearmint
- Lavender
- Clover
- Calendula
- Catnip
- Catmint
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Gaillardia?
Gaillardia is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with gaillardia are as follows:
- Fennel
- Chard
- Watercress
- Marshmallow
- Celery
What Soil Conditions Does Gaillardia Need?
Gaillardia prefers dry soil with a neutral pH. It is tolerant of a range of soil fertility levels, including nutrient-poor soil.
How Long Does Gaillardia Take to Germinate?
Gaillardia takes 1-3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 60-80°F.
How Much Sun Does Gaillardia Need?
Gaillardia needs full sun.
How Much Water Does Gaillardia Need?
Gaillardia needs 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Gaillardia?
Gaillardia grows fastest in temperatures of 60-90°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety and species.
How Tall Does Gaillardia Get?
The average height of gaillardia is 1-3 feet.
Is Gaillardia Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Gaillardia is perennial, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
How Does Gaillardia Reproduce?
Gaillardia reproduces by seed.
How Much Gaillardia is Produced Per Plant?
On average, gaillardia produces 1 flower, 1 tablespoon of seeds, and 10-20 leaves per stem.
Can Gaillardia Be Ingested?
Gaillardia flowers, seeds, and leaves are edible.
Gaillardia leaves have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparation is tea (infusion).
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting gaillardia flowers, seeds, or leaves.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of gaillardia rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for gaillardia here!
Gaillardia is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: