Gaillardia

 Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) is one of about two dozen species in the Genus Gaillardia, found mostly in North America with a few species in South America.

Also called Firewheel, this species has conspicuous and colorful blooms in vibrant reds tipped with bright yellow and can be found from Colorado south to Mexico and east to the Atlantic coast from Florida to Virginia.

The plant reseeds readily and easily colonizes area with dry, sandy soils. Gallardia is drought resistant and is an important plant for native bees that flock to the bright blooms. Salt tolerant, and easy to grown in a container, Gallardia is a native Florida wildflower that is certainly worth consideration in all Florida gardens.

Many hybrids of this species have been created, from flowers with petals shaped like trumpets to blooms that are entirely red or peach colored. Wherever you plant it, Gallardia packs a punch of color and gifts you with a long bloom season.

If your plants seem to be flagging in their blooms, give this perrenial a fasr dead-heading and remove all of the spent flower heads. New buds will be along shortly!

What's in a Name?

The genus Gaillardia was named for M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany.

The specific epithet, pulchella, comes from the Latin pulchellus meaning "beautiful little".