Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) Planting Guide

June

How to handle gaillardia (blanket flower) in June

Month-by-month gaillardia (blanket flower) fundamentals. Your frost dates change the timing, so pick your county for a tailored plan.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 70–100

Plant depth 0.1″

Spacing 12″

How to water gaillardia (blanket flower)
Mulch heavily around gaillardia (blanket flower) to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put gaillardia (blanket flower)
gaillardia (blanket flower) wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant gaillardia (blanket flower). Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact gaillardia (blanket flower) timing →

Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata), the native blanket flower of the American West, is one of the most floriferous and longest-blooming perennials available — producing cheerful, daisy-like flowers in fiery red, orange, and yellow combinations from early summer through hard frost in most climates. Named for the way its spreading colonies mimic the patterned blankets of Indigenous American weavers, gaillardia thrives in the exact conditions that challenge other perennials: poor, dry, gravelly soil in full sun. An outstanding pollinator plant, attracting bees, butterflies, and finches that feed on its seed heads. Somewhat short-lived (3–5 years) but self-seeds freely to sustain garden colonies.

Gaillardia aristata · Flower · Asteraceae family · 70–100 days to maturity

Perennial Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)?

Zone Compatibility for Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Mar 20	May 29	May 29	Aug 7 – Oct 30
Zone 3b	Mar 15	May 24	May 24	Aug 2 – Oct 25
Zone 4a	Mar 11	May 20	May 20	Jul 29 – Oct 28
Zone 4b	Mar 6	May 15	May 15	Jul 24 – Oct 30
Zone 5a	Feb 28	May 9	May 9	Jul 18 – Nov 7
Zone 5b	Feb 21	Apr 25	Apr 25	Jul 4 – Oct 24
Zone 6a	Feb 20	Apr 17	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Oct 30
Zone 6b	Feb 13	Apr 10	Apr 10	Jun 19 – Oct 23
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 1	Jun 10 – Oct 28
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 18	Mar 18	May 27 – Oct 28
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 1	Mar 1	May 10 – Oct 25
Zone 8b	Jan 14	Feb 11	Feb 11	Apr 22 – Oct 7
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Jan 27	Jan 27	Apr 7 – Oct 6
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 4	Jan 4	Mar 15 – Sep 13
Zone 10a	Nov 27	Dec 4	Dec 4	Feb 12 – Aug 13
Zone 10b	Nov 27	Nov 27	Nov 27	Feb 5 – Aug 6

How to Plant Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

0.1"

Planting Depth

12"

Between Plants

18"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–100 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) matures in just 70–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

✅ Good Companions

Echinacea Black Eyed Susan Coreopsis Sedum Ornamental Grasses

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost or direct-sow after last frost. Seeds need light to germinate — press onto soil surface without covering, or cover very lightly (1/8 inch). Transplant after last frost when soil has warmed. Lean, well-drained soil is essential — rich or wet soil causes sprawl and root rot. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong the season, but leave some heads for self-seeding to renew the planting. Divide every 2–3 years in spring to maintain vigor. Drought-tolerant once established; overwatering is more damaging than underwatering. Year 2+ plants deliver the fullest multi-season bloom.

Saving Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

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Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)?

Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) (Gaillardia aristata) takes 70 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) grow in?

Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) need?

Growing Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 7.