Blanket flower (Gaillardia × grandiflora 'Burgunder')
Gaillardia × grandiflora 'Burgunder' Blanket flower offers deep wine red, showy blooms from May to September in full sun gardens.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Blanket flower, specifically the cultivar Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’, is a stunning choice for gardeners seeking long-lasting, vibrant summer color with minimal effort. This hybrid brings together the hardiness of a perennial with the rapid growth rate and extended bloom season reminiscent of its annual relatives. Its deep, wine-red daisy-like flowers provide intense visual impact across the perennial border throughout the warmer months.
Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ thrives with little fuss once established, making it an excellent selection for low-maintenance landscapes, especially those prone to drier conditions. Growing typically two to three feet tall, it presents an erect, mounding habit suitable for adding mid-level texture and color. Gardeners value this Blanket flower not only for its aesthetic contribution but also for its attraction to beneficial pollinators.
As a tetraploid hybrid, Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ inherits robust characteristics, offering reliable performance across a broad range of USDA zones 3 through 9. Its ability to handle periods of dryness once established means it fits perfectly into water-wise gardening schemes, rewarding the gardener with continuous, showy bloom display until the first hard frost.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Wine red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ is best achieved in the spring after the danger of the last frost has passed. This Blanket flower prefers average, medium, well-drained soils located in full sun exposure for optimal flowering. Although it tolerates some drier soils, ensure the location does not stay soggy; it performs poorly in heavy, unamended clay. Space individual plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for good air circulation.
Proper care for this easily grown perennial is straightforward. Water consistently until the plant is well-established, after which its drought tolerance increases significantly. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary; over-fertilizing can reduce bloom quantity. Deadheading spent flowers is optional but recommended to maintain a tidy appearance and potentially encourage more blooms later in the season.
If the summer blooming period slows down, a strategic cutback can be highly beneficial. Cutting the plants back will refresh their appearance and often stimulate a second round of prolific flowering as autumn approaches. If you plan to collect seed from strains, allow some flowers to fade naturally, but note that deadheading prevents prolific self-seeding in the garden.
Landscape Uses
The vibrant color and sturdy structure of Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ make it versatile in landscape design. It shines when incorporated into traditional perennial borders, adding a burst of wine-red color that contrasts beautifully with cooler blues and purples. Because it is listed as excellent for fresh cut flowers, positioning it near a kitchen or cutting garden entrance is practical.
Furthermore, gardeners looking to establish low-maintenance drifts or naturalized areas will appreciate its hardiness. The Blanket flower readily naturalizes in wilder garden sections where maintenance is minimal. Consider pairing Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennials like Sedum, Coneflowers, or Russian Sage for a cohesive, vibrant, and resilient cottage garden tapestry.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Gaillardia × grandiflora is a tetraploid hybrid resulting from a cross between a 3’ tall perennial gaillardia (G. Aristata) and a 2’ tall annual gaillardia (G. Pulchella), inheriting its perennial habit from the former and its long flowering period and rapid growth rate from the latter. Typically grows 2-3’ tall on upright stems that are mostly leafless at the top, featuring daisy-like flowers (3-4” diameter). The cultivar ‘Burgunder’ specifically features large, solitary, deep wine red flowers which appear on erect but often sprawling stems, providing a long summer bloom period.
Tolerances
- Drought
Potential Problems
While Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ is generally considered low maintenance, vigilance regarding soil moisture is key to preventing disease. Root rot is a significant threat if the plant is situated in poorly drained soils, especially following extended periods of heavy summer rain. Gardeners should also watch for common fungal issues like powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot diseases, which are often exacerbated by high humidity or poor air circulation between plants. Preventing these issues relies heavily on providing full sun and ensuring the planting site has excellent drainage during initial establishment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Blanket flower suitable for?
Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ is highly adaptable, thriving in USDA Zones 3 through 9.
How large does Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ grow?
This specific Blanket flower typically reaches a mature height between 2 and 3 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Blanket flower need?
The Blanket flower requires full sun exposure to produce its characteristic long season of wine-red blooms.
When does Blanket flower bloom?
Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ blooms profusely from May all the way through September.
Conclusion
For reliable, long-season color in sunny, well-drained spots, Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ remains an outstanding choice, delivering impressive, showy, wine-red flowers. This easy-to-care-for Blanket flower earns its place in many garden styles due to its drought tolerance and low maintenance needs. Before planting, confirm your garden falls within USDA Zones 3-9 and ensure you can provide the required full sun exposure.
Wildlife Benefits
The vibrant, daisy-like flowers of Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ act as a significant nectar source, making this plant highly attractive to various butterflies throughout the summer. Butterflies actively seek out the composite flower heads of Blanket flower cultivars for feeding. Furthermore, gardeners in areas where goldfinches are common are encouraged to leave some spent flowerheads standing in the late fall.
Propagation Tips
While Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ is widely available as nursery stock, it is often grown from seed strains in commercial production. Gardeners can easily sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date, or start them indoors about four to six weeks prior for an earlier start. Alternatively, established perennial clumps can be carefully divided in the early spring before new growth begins, ensuring each division has healthy roots and some stem material for successful re-establishment.
