Blanket Flower (Gaillardia Aristata)

This Minnesota native is one of our favorite summer blooming plants that we use in the landscape. The flowers are very large (2-4”) and really pop out with their reddish orange interior surrounded by a yellow outer ring. They have a compact growth habit and make an awesome border plant or using them in the front of a bed area. This plant is on Minnesota’s concern list, making it a rare beauty to see in the wild in the dry prairies of northwest portion of the state. This plant grows 18-24” tall and prefers average soil that is not too heavy. When planting in a clay-based soil, make sure to add a compost mix to lighten the soil. Plant in full sun and deadhead spent flowers to prolong the bloom time from late May through August.