Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Indian blanket.
Gaillardia pulchella
Pronounced gay-LAR-dee-uh pul-KELL-uh
Also known as Fiesta Flower, Firewheel, Indian blanket, Indian blanket-flower, annual gaillardia, blanket flower, fire-wheel, firewheel blanketflower
Indian blanket is a cheerful, sun loving wildflower that brings a burst of color to any garden. It is quite hardy and thrives in poor, sandy soils where other plants might struggle. You will love how it attracts pollinators all season long.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Annual or short-lived perennial
- Light
- Full sun
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 1 to 2 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Plant this beauty in a spot that gets plenty of sun and has excellent drainage. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew if the air stays too humid. Deadheading spent blooms will keep the flowers coming back until the first frost.
- Watering
- Allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings as this plant prefers drier conditions.
- Feeding
- A light application of balanced fertilizer once or twice during the growing season is plenty.
- Pruning
- Regularly remove faded flowers to encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer.
- Repotting
- If grown in a container, move to a slightly larger pot only if the roots become crowded.
- Soil
- Sandy or rocky, well-draining soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
Safety
- Pets
- This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
How to identify it
- Daisy like flower heads
- Red and yellow bi-colored petals
- Hairy, lance shaped leaves
- Rounded, globe shaped seed heads
Science
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Gaillardia
- Order
- Asterales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Is your indian blanket looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.