Blanket Flower, Gaillardia Pulchella

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Gaillardia 💮

Scientific Name: Gaillardia pulchella
Common Names: Blanket Flower, Indian Blanket, Firewheel
Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family)

🌍 Place of Origin

Native to the southeastern United States and Mexico. Widely found in coastal dunes, sandy soils, prairies, and roadsides across Florida, Texas, and the Gulf Coast.

🪴 Growing Conditions

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–10

• Soil pH: 6.0–7.5 (sandy, well-drained soil)

• Sunlight: ☀️ Full sun

• Water Needs: 💧 Low – drought-tolerant once established

• Drought Tolerance: ✅ Excellent

• Indoor Potting: 🪴 Possible in containers, as long as there’s full sun

• Best Use in Landscape:
  Ideal for native gardens, pollinator beds, coastal restoration projects, and wildflower borders; thrives in sandy and poor soils

🌺 Uses & Symbolism

• Ornamental Use: Grown for its vivid red, orange, and yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom nearly year-round in warm climates

• Cultural Symbolism:

  • Named after the Gaillard family of French nobility and patronage of botany

  • Represents vibrancy, resilience, and native pride in American wildflower culture

• Other Uses: Ideal in butterfly gardens, roadside plantings, and xeriscaping

⚕️ Medicinal Properties & Studies

• Traditional Uses: Used in Native American herbalism for skin conditions and as a general tonic

• Modern Findings:

  • Contains antioxidant compounds and flavonoids

  • Limited pharmacological research, mostly focused on wild and ornamental use

• Pharmacological Actions:
  Anti-inflammatory (potential), mild antioxidant

• Vitamins & Minerals: Not used as an edible or nutritional herb

🐾 Toxicity & Safety

• Toxic to Pets or Humans: ❌ Non-toxic – safe for gardens with children and pets

• Insecticidal Properties: 🚫 None

• Pollinators: 🐝 Excellent – attracts bees, butterflies, and native pollinators

• Other Notes: Will self-seed in suitable climates; thrives in tough conditions

🌿 Quick Symbols Overview:
☀️ Full Sun | 💧 Low Water | ✅ Drought Tolerant | 🪴 Pot-Friendly | ❌ Non-Toxic | 🐝 Pollinator Magnet | 🦋 Native Wildflower

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