Blanket flower: sowing, care and how to keep it in the garden for several years

Q: Is blanket flower a perennial?

It depends on the species. Gaillardia pulchella is an annual; G. aristata and G. × grandiflora are perennials, but short-lived, usually lasting 2–4 years.

Annual and perennial blanket flower: sowing step by step, position, care during the season and the principles that help it survive winter.

In short: The blanket flower (Gaillardia) is an undemanding flower for sun and drought that flowers from June to September. From seed it is started in March to April at 18–22 °C, with the seeds only pressed in lightly because they germinate in light. Perennial blanket flowers live 2–4 years and are harmed most by winter wet and overfeeding.

Latin name	Gaillardia, daisy family
Height	20–80 cm depending on the species and variety
Flowering	June–September, until October with deadheading
Sowing	March–April on a windowsill, May straight outdoors
Germination	18–22 °C, in light, 1–3 weeks
Spacing	30–40 cm

The blanket flower has large flower heads in the colours of fire: a red centre, yellow or orange edges, and in some varieties entirely burgundy-red or golden. It comes from the dry prairies of North America and behaves accordingly. In heat, on sandy and poor soil it flowers best; in rich moist soil it flops and is gone after the first winter.

In the garden it suits sunny beds, gravel plantings, a rockery, a south-facing fence and a window box. It attracts honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies and keeps well as a cut flower.

Annual or perennial: species of blanket flower

Three groups of plants are sold under the name blanket flower. Always look for the Latin name on the seed packet; it tells you whether you will be sowing again every year.

Species	Lifespan	Height	Note
Gaillardia pulchella	annual	30–60 cm	flowers 10–12 weeks after sowing, double-flowered varieties exist
Gaillardia aristata	perennial	40–80 cm	the original perennial species, taller, sometimes flops
Gaillardia × grandiflora	short-lived perennial, 2–4 years	20–70 cm	a hybrid of the two above, the most common at garden centres, a number of varieties flower already in the first year

Low varieties up to 30 cm, for example 'Kobold' (also sold as 'Goblin') or the 'Arizona' series, suit window boxes and the edge of a bed. Taller varieties such as 'Burgunder' with burgundy-red flowers are better for cutting.

Sowing blanket flower step by step

Blanket flower can be sown straight outdoors in May, but plants raised under cover flower earlier and perennial species have a better chance of flowering already in the first year.

Timing: March to mid-April on a windowsill or in an unheated greenhouse.
Compost: fill a tray or cell tray with fine seed compost and moisten it.
Sow on the surface: space the seeds 1–2 cm apart and just press them in, at most dust lightly with compost. They need light to germinate.
Temperature: 18–22 °C, cover with film or a lid. A mini propagator with ventilation, which you ventilate briefly every day, is suitable. The seeds come up in 1–3 weeks.
Pricking out: when the seedlings have 2–4 true leaves, transplant them one at a time into pots 7–8 cm across. Then grow them cooler, around 15 °C, and in light.
Hardening off and planting out: from the beginning of May take them outside during the day, and in mid-May plant them out in the bed 30–40 cm apart.

With direct sowing in May, sow in rows or groups and just rake the seeds into the surface. Thin the seedlings that come up to 30 cm. What else is sown on a windowsill in spring is summarised in the article Annuals and biennials – quick colour for the garden.

Position and soil

The blanket flower needs full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light a day. In shade it stretches, flowers little and the stems flop.

The soil should be well-drained, lean and on the lighter side. Sandy loam, a gravel planting or a slope are ideal. In heavy clay, where water stands after rain, perennial blanket flowers rot in winter. If you have no other soil, mix coarse sand or fine gravel into the planting hole, or plant in a raised bed. Add compost only sparingly; rich soil means lush leaves, flopping and a shorter life for the plant. For tips on planting in a rockery see the article Building a rockery.

Care during the season

Watering: regularly for the first 3–4 weeks after planting, then only in long dry spells. An established blanket flower tolerates drought well, but in a window box water when the compost has dried out.
Feeding: usually not needed in a bed. In a window box a weak dose of fertiliser for flowering plants once every 3–4 weeks is enough.
Deadheading: cut stems with faded flower heads regularly above a leaf. The plant then forms more buds and flowers until the frosts. Towards the end of summer you can leave a few heads to ripen into seed; the decorative round heads are also pretty in dried arrangements.
Support: tall varieties flop in richer soil; a low hoop or neighbouring perennials help.

Overwintering and a longer life for perennial blanket flowers

Perennial blanket flowers are hardy but short-lived. Most often they die not of frost but of wet and of exhaustion from long flowering. A few principles will add a year or two:

At the end of August or the beginning of September shorten the plants to about 10–15 cm. They form a basal rosette of leaves, which overwinters better than a plant that flowers to the last day.
Do not feed in autumn and do not cover them with a layer of wet leaves. The root crown must stay dry.
Every 2–3 years divide the clumps in spring and replant the rejuvenated parts. They can also be propagated by root cuttings in winter.
Let a few flowers go to seed. On well-drained soil the blanket flower self-seeds and so continually replaces the old plants.

Protecting perennials over winter in general is covered in the article Important tips for preparing the garden for winter.

What to watch out for

Problem	Cause	Solution
gone after winter	winter wet, heavy soil, age	a better-drained spot, shortening in August, new plants from seed
flopping stems, few flowers	shade, overfeeding, too much moisture	sun and leaner soil
white coating on leaves	powdery mildew in close weather	wider spacing, water at the roots, remove affected leaves
chewed young plants	slugs after planting	check in the evening, collect them, watch for the first 2–3 weeks
green, deformed flowers	phytoplasma spread by leafhoppers	pull the plant out and discard it away from the compost

You can combine it well with other long-flowering perennials for sun following the article Inspiration: long-flowering perennials.

Frequently asked questions

When should I sow blanket flower?

On a windowsill from March to mid-April, straight outdoors in May. Plants raised under cover flower from June, directly sown ones roughly a month later.

Is blanket flower a perennial?

It depends on the species. Gaillardia pulchella is an annual; G. aristata and G. × grandiflora are perennials, but short-lived, usually lasting 2–4 years.

When does blanket flower flower?

From June to September, and with regular deadheading often until October.

Why did my blanket flower not come up after winter?

Most often it rotted in wet, heavy soil, or it had reached the end of its life. Plant it in a well-drained spot, shorten it at the end of summer and let part of the flowers go to seed.

Can blanket flower be grown in a window box?

Yes, mainly low varieties up to 30 cm. The window box must have drainage and a well-drained compost; water when the surface has dried out, and stand it in full sun.

Sources

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, the editorial name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage data from specialist literature and official sources, which we cite in every article.