Gaillardia aristata aka Indian Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata, or blanket flower, belongs to the daisy family. This perennial wildflower comes from Canada and the northern United States. Its range includes the northern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest. It grows in meadows, prairies, grasslands, and mountain foothills. Wild plants often grow on dry sites. The plant has a taproot and grows fast. It forms rounded clumps with upright stems. Garden plants reach 1–3 feet (0.30–0.91 metres) tall. They spread 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 metres) wide.

The thin, stiff stems carry a dense coat of hairs. Rough, gray-green leaves grow at the base and along stems. Stem leaves alternate rather than grow in pairs. They have a lance shape and can have broader tips. Leaf edges may be smooth, toothed, or lobed. Some leaves have few hairs, while others have many. The foliage falls away at the end of its season.

Each stem ends in a single, daisy-like flower head. Yellow rays surround a brown-purple or red-purple central disk. Some rays have red or purple marks near their base. Each ray ends in three small lobes. Narrow, pointed, hairy bracts sit beneath the flower head. Bloom starts in May and can last into October. One source gives September as the end of bloom. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, and seed heads draw birds. The fruit is a small, hairy, gray-brown achene. It has a cone shape and eight stiff bristles. Fruits ripen in late summer.

Grow blanket flower in full sun and well-drained soil. It suits hot, dry sites and tolerates drought. Long dry spells may still call for extra water. It accepts sandy, loamy, and shallow rocky soils. It also grows in rich soil that drains well. Its pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Wet, heavy clay gives poor results. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8 and needs little upkeep. Removing old flowers can tidy plants and help extend bloom. Cutting plants back after summer bloom slows may prompt fall flowers.

Use it in border fronts, rock gardens, or cottage gardens. It also suits pots and supplies cut flowers. Seeds and division offer ways to grow more plants. It self-seeds freely and can become weedy. Serious insect trouble is uncommon. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, and aster yellows can occur. Poor drainage and excess water can cause root rot. Its hairs may irritate skin, so gloves help when handling it. Native Americans used the seeds as food. Indigenous people in Canada also used it for pain and illness. These records describe past uses, not proof of safe treatment.