Gaillardia Species and Varieties: A Guide to Popular Cultivars

Gaillardia, commonly known as blanket flower, is one of those plants that delivers maximum visual impact with minimum fuss. Native to North and South America, this genus belongs to the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and is celebrated for its daisy-like blooms in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. Whether you’re filling a perennial border, adding colour to a container, or building a drought-tolerant landscape, knowing the right Gaillardia species and cultivars can make all the difference. Let’s walk through the key species, their standout varieties, and how modern hybrids have expanded the possibilities for growers and gardeners.

The Gaillardia genus at a glance 🔗

The Gaillardia genus contains 12 recognised species in horticulture texts, though broader botanical surveys count up to 25-30 species across the Americas. The genus was named after the 18th-century French botanist Antoine René Gaillard de Charentoneau. Among all the species, two dominate the commercial and ornamental world: Gaillardia pulchella (the annual blanket flower) and Gaillardia aristata (the perennial blanket flower). A third group – the Gaillardia × grandiflora hybrids – resulted from crossing these two parent species and is now the most widely grown form in home and commercial gardens.

All Gaillardia species share some common traits: they are drought-tolerant, thrive in full sun, prefer well-drained soil (even poor, sandy, or rocky soil), and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. They are also generally resistant to deer and rabbits, which adds to their landscape value.

Gaillardia pulchella – the annual blanket flower 🔗

Gaillardia pulchella, also called Indian blanket or firewheel, is the annual species of the genus. It was the first Gaillardia species formally described, back in 1788. Native from the southeastern United States through Colorado and into Mexico, this species is a familiar sight along roadsides and in wildflower meadows across the American Southwest.

Growth habit and flower characteristics 🔗

G. pulchella can grow up to three feet tall, though it tends to become floppy without support when left as an open species. The plants begin flowering roughly three months after sowing, making them an excellent choice for quick seasonal colour. Flowers can be single or double, and they appear in a range of colours – solid red, solid yellow, or the classic combination of red petals tipped with yellow. The central disc florets are typically dark purple or brownish-red.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center notes that this species reseeds readily and does best in sandy or calcareous soils with good drainage. Rich soils tend to produce large, floppy plants with fewer flowers – a key point for growers aiming for compact, bloom-heavy plants.

Notable G. pulchella varieties 🔗

Several named cultivars of G. pulchella have been developed for improved garden performance:

‘Red Plume’ – This is one of the most recognised G. pulchella cultivars. It produces double, brick-red flowers on dwarf, compact plants that reach only 12-14 inches in height. ‘Red Plume’ won the All-America Selections award in 1991 for its long bloom time, compact habit, and prolific flowering. The ruffled, pom-pom-like blooms also make it popular for cutting gardens. According to the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension, this variety grows 6-12 inches tall, is highly drought- and salt-tolerant, and performs well in heat and humidity – making it ideal for tropical and subtropical landscapes.

‘DGS-1’ – Developed specifically for commercial production, this variety offers consistent performance and a uniform growth habit. It is commonly used in large-scale public plantings and landscapes where dependable results are essential across hundreds or thousands of plants.

‘Baby Cole’ – A compact cultivar that stays under 12 inches tall, ‘Baby Cole’ is well suited for container gardens, edging, and small-space plantings. It produces abundant flowers in the classic red-and-yellow bicolour pattern, delivering the traditional blanket flower look in a miniature package.

‘Yellow Plume’ – Similar to ‘Red Plume’ in habit and form, but with all-yellow double flowers. It provides a solid single-colour option for gardeners who want the same compact growth without the red tones.

Gaillardia aristata – the perennial blanket flower 🔗

Gaillardia aristata, commonly known as great blanket flower or common gaillardia, is the perennial counterpart to G. pulchella. It was first collected by Lewis and Clark in Montana in 1806 and is native to the prairies and Rocky Mountain regions of North America. This species forms the backbone of many long-term garden displays because it comes back year after year and often self-seeds to form naturalised colonies.

Growth habit and colour range 🔗

G. aristata is a robust, large-flowered perennial with yellow ray flowers that are often red-orange at the base. The central disc is typically red-orange as well. Plants are hardy across USDA Zones 3-10 and form mounding to slightly sprawling clumps of grey-green, hairy foliage.

The colour range in G. aristata is remarkably diverse. While the classic red-and-yellow bicolour remains popular, breeding work has produced varieties in solid yellow, orange, burgundy, and various bicolour combinations. Some newer selections even feature peach and coral shades.

Notable G. aristata varieties 🔗

‘Dazzler’ – This cultivar produces brilliant orange-red flowers with golden-yellow tips and a dark centre. It reaches about 12 inches in height. Research at Michigan State University has included ‘Dazzler’ in evaluations of traditional Gaillardia cultivars alongside ‘Goblin’ and ‘Baby Cole’. It is particularly heat-tolerant and performs well in challenging, dry conditions.

‘Goblin’ (also known as ‘Kobold’) – One of the most popular compact perennial Gaillardia cultivars ever developed. ‘Goblin’ stays 10-14 inches tall and produces large, scarlet-red flowers with fringed yellow tips and a reddish-brown cone centre. It blooms from early summer into fall and is excellent for front-of-border plantings, rock gardens, and containers. It requires vernalisation (a cold period) and long days for synchronised flowering, which is an important consideration for commercial growers.

‘Amber Wheels’ – Features fringed yellow ray flowers with an amber-red centre, offering a softer colour palette compared to the bold reds of ‘Dazzler’ or ‘Goblin’.

‘Maxima Aurea’ – A variety with yellow rays and a darker yellow disc, growing to about 20 inches tall and wide. It provides a solid-yellow option within the perennial species.

Gaillardia × grandiflora – the hybrid blanket flowers 🔗

The most commonly grown blanket flowers in modern gardens are not pure species but interspecific hybrids. Gaillardia × grandiflora originated when G. pulchella and G. aristata hybridised in a Belgian garden in 1857. The result combined the best traits of both parents: the rich flower colours of G. pulchella with the perennial habit and hardiness of G. aristata.

These hybrids are short-lived perennials – they typically last two to four years in the landscape before declining, though they self-seed freely. They are quite variable in size, reaching up to 3 feet tall, but breeders have focused heavily on developing compact cultivars, new colour forms, and improved disease resistance.

Notable hybrid varieties 🔗

‘Burgundy’ (also sold as ‘Burgunder’) – A striking hybrid that produces deep wine-red flowers with a narrow yellow frill along the petal edges. The yellow centre ages to dark red as the flower matures. Plants reach 24-30 inches tall and self-sow reliably in Zones 3-9. ‘Burgundy’ offers a sophisticated, rich colour that works equally well in cottage gardens and more formal landscapes.

‘Ipswich Beauty’ – Known for large, deep-yellow flowers touched with reddish-brown, this hybrid reaches 2-3 feet in height. It brings a softer, warmer palette to the typically bold Gaillardia colour range and is a good option for gardeners seeking more subtle tones.

‘Arizona Sun’ – One of the most commercially successful modern hybrids, ‘Arizona Sun’ features fiery red flowers with bright yellow tips. It is compact and blooms in the first year from seed. This cultivar is an All-America Selections winner, recognised for its garden performance and uniform habit.

‘Fanfare’ – Unique among Gaillardia cultivars for its tubular (trumpet-shaped) ray flowers rather than the typical flat petals. The series includes several colour forms such as ‘Fanfare Blaze’ (red-orange) and ‘Fanfare Citronella’ (yellow). According to Greenhouse Product News, the ‘Fanfare’ series is a consumer favourite and is vegetatively propagated, offering greater uniformity than seed-grown cultivars.

‘Oranges and Lemons’ – This hybrid expanded the traditional Gaillardia colour range with peach and apricot tones – colours previously unseen in blanket flowers. It is a popular choice for gardeners who want something different from the standard red-and-yellow combination.

Other Gaillardia species worth noting 🔗

While G. pulchella and G. aristata dominate commercially, several other species exist within the genus. These include Gaillardia pinnatifida (red dome blanketflower) from the western United States and northern Mexico, Gaillardia aestivalis native to the southeastern United States, and several South American species like Gaillardia megapotamica from Argentina. Gaillardia spathulata is a less common species found in Utah and Colorado. These species are rarely used in mainstream horticulture but contribute to the genetic diversity of the genus and may play roles in future breeding programmes.

How to choose the right variety for your garden 🔗

Selecting the best Gaillardia for your situation comes down to a few practical considerations:

For seasonal colour and containers – Go with G. pulchella varieties like ‘Red Plume’ or ‘Baby Cole’. These annuals give you reliable, quick-blooming colour and work well in areas where you change plantings each season.

For perennial borders and naturalised plantings – Choose G. aristata varieties like ‘Dazzler’ or ‘Goblin’. These come back year after year and are ideal for xeriscaping and low-maintenance landscapes.

For specific colours or unique characteristics – Hybrids like ‘Burgundy’, ‘Ipswich Beauty’, or ‘Oranges and Lemons’ offer flower colours and forms not available in the parent species. These work well when you want something distinctive.

Regardless of species or variety, all Gaillardia share the same basic requirements: full sun, well-drained soil, and minimal fertilisation. Overly rich soil actually reduces flowering and encourages leggy growth. Deadheading spent flowers encourages continuous blooming through summer and into fall. For perennial types, dividing clumps every 2-3 years in spring or early fall helps maintain plant vigour.

The role of Gaillardia in modern floriculture 🔗

Gaillardia has seen a surge of interest in commercial floriculture over the past two decades. Breeders continue to release new cultivars with improved compactness, first-year flowering from seed, and novel colour combinations. The Michigan State University floriculture programme has done extensive research on the flowering requirements of various Gaillardia cultivars, finding that different varieties respond differently to photoperiod and vernalisation treatments – information that is critical for greenhouse production scheduling.

For commercial growers, understanding these differences is essential. Seed-propagated cultivars like ‘Goblin’ and ‘Arizona Sun’ tend to show more variability in flowering time compared to vegetatively propagated types like ‘Fanfare’. Long-day conditions (16+ hours of light) help promote more uniform flowering in seed-grown varieties.

Gaillardia’s heat tolerance, drought resistance, and pollinator-friendly nature also make it increasingly relevant for sustainable landscaping and urban greening projects, especially in regions facing water restrictions.

What do you think? Which Gaillardia variety would suit your garden conditions best – a compact annual like ‘Red Plume’ for container colour, or a tough perennial like ‘Goblin’ for a permanent border? How important is colour variety when you’re selecting blanket flower cultivars for your landscape?

References

1. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/blanket-flower-gaillardia-spp/
2. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gaillardia-x-grandiflora/
3. https://www.gardenia.net/genus/gaillardia-blanket-flower
4. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GAPU
5. https://all-americaselections.org/product/gaillardia-red-plume/
6. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP217
7. https://gpnmag.com/article/gaillardia-unique-forcing-requirements-old-and-new-cultivars/
8. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/gaillardia-grandiflora-goblin
9. https://www.backyardgardener.com/garden-tip-articles/garden-guide/gaillardia-perennial-plant-how-to-grow/
10. https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/select-one-of-the-many-species-of-gaillardia-for-an-easy-to-grow-perennial/
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaillardia
12. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gaillardia/