Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING)
Brighten borders with Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING, a low-maintenance Blanket flower offering continuous red/yellow blooms from May to fall.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Blanket flower, specifically the cultivar Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING, is a standout choice for adding vibrant, long-lasting color to sunny garden spaces. This herbaceous perennial is prized for its dense, rounded habit and robust performance across a wide range of conditions, making it incredibly valuable in mixed borders and rock gardens. Its daisy-type blooms feature striking red ray florets tipped with bright yellow surrounding a dark central disk.
Native varieties of Gaillardia aristata thrive in the often harsh, dry sites of western North American prairies and foothills. This resilience transfers to the garden, allowing the Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING selection to offer exceptional drought tolerance once established. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance needs and its tendency to bloom continuously from late spring well into the autumn months.
Beyond aesthetics, this Blanket flower provides significant ecological benefits, attracting butterflies and other insect pollinators throughout its extended bloom period. Its dependable structure and continuous floral display ensure that this specific cultivar of Gaillardia aristata BARBICUS YELLOW RED RING remains a reliable anchor plant in sunny perennial designs.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.25-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1.25-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Red and yellow bicolor
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING is best done in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate, ensuring the plant establishes a strong root system before facing summer heat. Locate it in an area receiving full sun, which is critical for achieving the best bloom density and maintaining plant structure. The soil should be well-drained; although it prefers average, fertile soil, it tolerates dry soils exceptionally well. Avoid heavy clay soils that remain soggy.
Care for this Blanket flower is remarkably straightforward due to its low water needs and tough disposition. Water deeply but infrequently once established, relying on natural rainfall once established, particularly since it accepts drought conditions. Fertilization is rarely necessary; over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen, can lead to floppy growth and reduced flowering.
To maximize the season of color provided by your Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING, deadheading spent flowers is optional but recommended for tidiness. If the summer performance wanes or blooming slows significantly, cutting the plants back by about one-third can rejuvenate them and stimulate a fresh flush of blooms later in the season, ensuring a fall display.
Landscape Uses
The compact stature and brilliant red and yellow bicolor flowers make Gaillardia aristata versatile. It excels when planted toward the front of perennial borders, providing a low-growing, sunny accent that doesn’t obscure taller neighbors. Its use in naturalizing areas is appropriate given its native prairie heritage, offering excellent texture and color in meadow-style plantings.
These plants are also highly effective in cottage gardens, blending well with coneflowers and ornamental grasses. For year-round visual interest, consider using Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING in containers or window boxes, where its drought tolerance makes it an excellent choice for less frequently watered pots. It pairs nicely with plants that also require fantastic drainage and full sun.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Gaillardia aristata is a species of blanket flower native to western North America, thriving in dry meadows and foothills. This particular cultivar, BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING, is a freely blooming selection reaching 1.5’ tall, noted for its flowers featuring red ray florets with yellow tips surrounding a dark red-brown central disk, blooming continuously from late spring through early fall. Flowers attract butterflies, and the stiff, bristly hairs covering the leaves and stems distinguish the aristata species.
Tolerances
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
The primary horticultural risk for the Blanket flower is root rot, which occurs predictably when planted in poorly drained, heavy soils, especially during extended summer rains. The species can also be susceptible to common fungal issues such as powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot diseases. Watch for signs of aster yellows, which can distort new growth. Selecting consistently sunny, well-drained locations and avoiding overwatering are the best preventative measures against most common issues affecting Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Blanket flower suitable for?
This perennial Blanket flower variety, Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING, flourishes in USDA Zones 4 through 9, offering broad adaptability across many climates.
How large does Blanket flower grow?
Mature plants typically achieve a modest, desirable size, reaching between 1.25 to 1.5 feet in height with an equal spread, making them excellent for border fronts.
What sun exposure does Blanket flower need?
For optimal health and the longest bloom sequence from May to September, Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING requires consistent full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Blanket flower bloom?
This specific cultivar boasts a season-long performance, blooming continuously from late spring through early fall, featuring vibrant red and yellow bicolor displays.
Conclusion
The Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING is an invaluable, visually striking, and exceptionally drought-tolerant perennial that requires minimal effort from the gardener. Its continuous display of red and yellow bicolor blooms ensures that your sunny landscape remains bright from late spring onward. Verify your planting zone aligns with USDA 4-9 and prepare the site with excellent drainage to enjoy years of low-maintenance beauty from this superior Blanket flower.
Companion Planting
Companion planting near Gaillardia aristata BARBICAN YELLOW RED RING should focus on species that also demand full sun and prefer drier soil conditions, mirroring its low-water needs. Excellent partners include ornamental grasses like Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis) or shorter varieties of Switchgrass, which provide textural contrast to the fine daisy blooms. Succulents and Mediterranean herbs such as Lavender (Lavandula) or Thyme (Thymus) share similar cultural requirements and enhance the sunny cottage garden aesthetic.
Wildlife Benefits
One of the greatest advantages of including the Blanket flower in your garden design is the positive impact it has on local ecosystems. The prominent central disks of the flowers provide ample landing platforms and nectar sources for numerous butterfly species throughout the long growing season. Furthermore, once the blooms age, the resulting seedheads are readily consumed by various seed-eating songbirds, effectively extending the plant’s value beyond its impressive flowering period.
