Gaillardia

Gaillardia (pronounced /ɡeɪˈlɑrdiə/), the Blanket flowers, is a genus of drought-tolerant annual and perennial plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to North America and South America. It was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. The common name refers to the inflorescence's resemblance to brightly patterned blankets made by native Americans.

Growth

These plants form wiry, branched stems with lanceolate to linear basal leaves. The plant grows to 1+1/2 to 2 ft tall, with bright daisy-like single color and bi-color blooms in shades from buff to red to brown. The flowers bloom in the summer. There are more than two dozen known species of Gaillardia.

They will grow under very harsh and dry conditions, forming mounds, 8-18 inches (20-46 cm) high, and will even bloom in sand along a seashore.

Uses

Gaillardia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Schinia bina (which has been recorded on G. pulchella), Schinia masoni (which feeds exclusively on G. aristata) and Schinia volupia (which feeds exclusively on G. pulchella).

Species

North American species Gaillardia aestivalis : Lanceleaf Blanketflower
Gaillardia aestivalis var. aestivalis : Lanceleaf Blanketflower
Gaillardia aestivalis var. flavovirens : Lanceleaf Blanketflower
Gaillardia aestivalis var. winkleri : Winkler's Blanketflower
Gaillardia amblyodon : Maroon Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata : Common gaillardia
Gaillardia arizonica : Arizona Blanketflower
Gaillardia arizonica var. arizonica : Arizona Blanketflower
Gaillardia arizonica var. pringlei : Pringle's Blanketflower
Gaillardia coahuilensis : Bandanna Daisy
Gaillardia flava : Yellow Blanketflower
Gaillardia x grandiflora I]G. aristata × G. pulchella[/I
Gaillardia multiceps : Onion Blanketflower
Gaillardia multiceps var. microcephala : Onion Blanketflower
Gaillardia multiceps var. multiceps : Onion Blanketflower
Gaillardia parryi : Parry's Blanketflower
Gaillardia pinnatifida : Red Dome Blanketflower
Gaillardia pinnatifida var. linearis : : Red Dome Blanketflower
Gaillardia pinnatifida var. pinnatifida : Red Dome Blanketflower
Gaillardia pulchella : Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella var. australis : Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella var. picta : : Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella var. pulchella : Firewheel
Gaillardia spathulata : : Western Blanketflower
Gaillardia suavis : : Perfumeballs