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Plant Profile: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Goblin’)

Gaillardia GoblinBig, bold, bright flowers give a suggestion of what this plant is all about. Scarlet ray petals tipped with yellow surround the dark purple centers producing 3-4” flowers that are a must for any hot border. The 12” plants are tough and survive heat, drought, and poor soil while blooming from June to frost. This plant is a true workhorse and that is its greatest virtue and greatest fault. It can bloom its heart out and not return as a perennial should. The plant is such an asset to my garden I never mind planting seeds each year to ensure a supply the following year.

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Four inch flowers with scarlet petals tipped with yellow are borne from June to frost.

Size: 9-12” H x 12-18”W

Light: Full sun.

Soil: Average to poor, well drained.

Hardiness: Zones 3-9.

Care: Deadhead to encourage blooms.

Pests and Diseases: None of importance.

Propagation: Stem cuttings in late summer; root cuttings in early winter; division every 2-3 years; purchased seed.

Companion plants: Nice with golden yellow flowers like threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’) golden rod (Salidago spp); various gold and red daylilies, white Shaste daisies (Leucanthemum ) like ‘Becky; ornamental grasses.

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