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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Blanket Flower for Florida Gardens,
Native Wildflowers for Pollinators,
Bright Red Yellow Daisy Flowers,
Low Water Flowering Plants,
Non Toxic Flowers for Children and Pets,
Bee Attracting Garden Plants,
Butterfly Friendly Wildflowers,
Firewheel Flower Species,
Drought Resistant Florida Natives,
Sandy Soil Flowering Plants,
Wildflowers for Xeriscaping,
Container Grown Native Flowers,
Annual and Perennial Native Plants,
Native Restoration Plants,
Gaillardia in Coastal Gardens,
Flowers for Native Wildlife Support,
Heat Tolerant Wildflowers,
Easy Care Blooming Plants,
Floridian Meadow Plants,
Hardy Wildflowers for South Gardens,
Heritage Wildflower Species,
Flowers for Roadside Beauty


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