Blanket flowers: Heat- and drought-tolerant perennials

Gardeners are always on the hunt for low-maintenance plants, particularly ones that can withstand adverse environmental conditions such as heat and drought. Though we’ve had a few nice rain showers in the past week, we are still experiencing a severe drought that is affecting gardens, landscapes, and farms throughout the region. As gardeners we can’t control the weather, but we can, at least in some circumstances, select plants that are tolerant of the types of conditions we might encounter.

One drought-tolerant plant that I’ve always been a fan of is the blanket flower. Blanket flower is the common name for many flowering plants in the genus Gaillardia, including Gaillardia pulchella, an annual native to the Central Southeastern U.S. and Mexico, Gaillardia aestavalis, a short-lived perennial native to more or less the same region, and Gaillardia aristata, a hardy perennial native to Canada and the Northern United States. While you may see each of these plants on occasion in nurseries and catalogs, the most common blanket flower in most gardens is Gaillardia x grandiflora, a hybrid of G. pulchella and G. aristata. Though these species of blanket flower have some differences in size, growth habit, and ornamental characteristics, they all share the common trait of drought tolerance. 

Gaillardia x grandiflora is a hybrid of a short-lived native perennial and a hardy

native perennial. They are drought-tolerant. Above: Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Burgundy.' Top right: Gaillardia x grandiflora  'Oranges & Lemons.' Photo: D. Roos, CC BY 2.0 Bottom right: Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Golden Goblin.' Photo: D.J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0

Let’s focus on the most common blanket flower in landscapes, Gaillardia x grandiflora. This hybrid inherits the size (1-3’ tall by 1-2’ wide) and hardiness of its perennial parent, while taking the extended bloom time of its annual parent. Disc-shaped, daisy-like flowers, typically with dark red centers and yellow-orange perimeters, persist throughout most of summer, particularly if deadheaded. Cultivars such as ‘Orange and Lemons’ with orange and yellow petals, ‘Burgundy’ with yellow centers and deep red petals, and ‘Golden Goblin,’ which is pure yellow throughout, offer some color variation while staying true to the plants other characteristics.

Blanket flowers thrive in hot, sunny locations, and though they need water on occasion, they can withstand long periods in between waterings with little consequence. Foliage may seem a bit droopy at points, but always seems to bounce back without lingering effect. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the seedheads left after bloom concludes feed goldfinches and other birds. Plant blanket flowers in standard perennial beds with other summer blooming flowers, or in rock gardens or near paved surfaces where heat and dry soil are likely. They pair well with coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and coreopsis, as well as salvia, yarrow, and ornamental grasses.

For more on drought-tolerant plants, consider visiting the Pitt County Arboretum for our Heat Proof Heroes plant walk on July 17th at 9 am.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.