Blanket flower (Gaillardia) is a beloved garden flower known for its vivid, daisy-like blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, and burgundy. These hardy plants are native to North America and add long-lasting color to gardens, especially in hot, dry climates. The good news is blanket flowers are easy to grow yourself directly from seed.
Why Start Blanket Flowers from Seed?
Growing blanket flower from seed offers many advantages
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It’s very economical. A single seed packet produces dozens of flowers.
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You can find a wide variety of flower colors and plant sizes
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Blanket flowers grown from seed are sturdy and adapted to your local climate
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It’s satisfying to nurture plants from seed to flower.
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Saving your own seeds provides free plants year after year.
Choosing the Right Variety
When selecting blanket flower seeds, consider your growing zone, desired height, and flower color. Popular varieties include:
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Annual blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) – Grows as an annual in all zones. Flowers in red, yellow, burgundy. Try ‘Sundance Bicolor’.
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Common blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata) – Perennial in zones 3-10. Red, orange, yellow blooms. ‘Burgundy’ is a top pick.
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Hybrid blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) – Perennial in zones 5-10. Most compact and longest blooming. Good choices are ‘Goblin’ and ‘Crimson Frills’.
When to Plant the Seeds
In warm climates: Direct sow after the last spring frost. Can also plant in fall.
In cold climates: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your frost-free date. Transplant seedlings outside after hardening off.
Perennials can be directly sown in spring once soil is 60°F. Annuals can be sown again in late summer for autumn flowers.
How to Sow Seeds Outdoors
Blanket flower seeds need light to germinate, so simply scatter them over prepared soil:
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Choose a site with full sun and well-draining soil. Amend with compost if needed.
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Rake top 1⁄4 inch of soil smooth to create seed bed.
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Scatter seeds about 12 inches apart across area.
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Cover very lightly with soil or not at all. Seeds need sun to sprout.
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Gently water daily to keep moist. Seeds germinate in 14-21 days.
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Thin seedlings to 12-15 inches apart once true leaves appear.
Starting Seeds Indoors
You can get a head start on growing by starting the seeds indoors:
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Begin seeds 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date.
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Use seed starting mix and sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep in cells or flats.
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Keep soil moist and provide 70°F bottom heat until sprouted.
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Move to full sun once seedlings have true leaves.
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Harden off plants 7-10 days before transplanting into garden after frost danger passes.
Caring for Blanket Flower Plants
Once seedlings are established, blanket flowers need minimal care:
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Give at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
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Water 1-2 times weekly until established. Then only during droughts.
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Fertilize lightly with a balanced flower fertilizer, or use compost.
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Pinch back leggy plants by 1/3 to encourage bushy growth.
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Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering from spring to fall.
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Watch for aphids, slugs, powdery mildew. Treat organically as needed.
Growing Tips for Maximizing Flowers
Follow these tips to get the most prolific blooms from your blanket flowers:
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Give plants a hot, sunny location with poor to average soil. Avoid rich soil.
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Water new plants consistently. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
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Avoid fertilizer or go light. Excess nitrogen leads to foliage over flowers.
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Deadheading spent blooms keeps plants flowering. But it’s not required.
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Cut back any leggy/floppy growth in midsummer to encourage reblooming.
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Divide overcrowded plants in spring every 2-3 years to rejuvenate.
Saving Blanket Flower Seeds
An added bonus of growing blanket flowers is collecting seeds for future planting:
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Allow spent blooms to dry on plants instead of deadheading all.
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When heads are completely dry and brown, cut them off into paper bags.
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Crush the bags to separate out the tiny black seeds from debris.
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Discard chaff and store cleaned seeds in envelopes in a cool, dry spot.
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Label with variety and year collected. Seeds stay viable for 2-3 years.
Saving your own seeds provides free plants for many years to come!
Tips for Growing in Containers
In addition to sowing directly in garden beds, start seeds in containers:
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Use containers at least 10-12 inches wide and deep with drainage holes.
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Fill with quality potting mix and sow seeds. Cover lightly with soil.
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Thin to 1-2 seedlings per pot after sprouting.
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Give containers full sun. Rotate for even growth.
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Let soil dry out between waterings. Don’t overwater containers.
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Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growth.
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Watch for pests; treat organically as needed.
With proper care, blanket flowers thrive in containers on patios and porches.
Solving Common Problems
Blanket flowers are unfazed by many issues, but watch for:
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Poor germination – Ensure seeds have sufficient light and moisture.
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Leggy growth – Give full sun. Pinch back stems to encourage bushiness.
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Mildew – Improve air circulation. Promptly remove affected foliage.
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Few blooms – Add compost to soil. Avoid over-fertilization.
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Aster yellows – Destroy and discard any infected plants promptly.
With their heat and drought tolerance, vibrant colors, and easy care nature, blanket flowers are a joy to grow yourself from seed. A small investment in seeds yields an abundance of cheery blossoms. Give blanket flowers a try this season for vibrant, lasting color in gardens.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Blanket flower plants are susceptible to aster yellows, a virus-like disease that stunts their growth and causes the flowers to become green. Plants that contract aster yellows should be destroyed. They will not recover and the disease can continue to spread.
Aster yellows are spread by leaf-hoppers and aphids. Natural predators, like ladybugs, can ward off pests. If there are not enough predators, spray the plant with insecticidal soap.
Water
Check the soil of new plants frequently (every other day or so) to ensure the soil is moist but not soggy an inch below the soil line. Once established, gaillardia is extremely drought tolerant. It can go without watering unless there are extremely hot and dry conditions, then its best to water the bed once or twice per week. Avoid overwatering.
Growing blanket flowers from seeds (with updates)
FAQ
How long do blanket flowers take to grow from seed?
Blanket flower seeds typically take two to three weeks to germinate. Most perennial blanket flowers bloom the same year they’re planted, but you’ll get a better flower show in subsequent years.
Can you just throw flower seeds on the ground?
We don’t recommend just throwing the seed out in the field or into the grass; anyone who’s tried scattering seed without removing other plants has been sorely …
How to start blanket flower seeds indoors?
If starting indoors, provide bright light and a soil temperature of 21°C (70°F). Sow on the surface of the soil. Transplant or thin to stand 15-30cm (6-12″) apart. Feed once, just as flowering begins, and top-dress with well-rotted manure once in summer.
How to germinate a blanket flower?
To plant the seeds outdoors, rake the soil and scatter the seeds. Use only a sprinkling of soil to keep the seeds in place (or no cover soil at all) as blanket flower seeds need sunlight to sprout. Lightly mist the soil and keep the area moist for a few weeks until the seeds begin to germinate.
How do you grow blanket flower seeds?
Blanket flower seeds need light to germinate, so sow them directly on the soil surface. Follow these steps: Choose a site with full sun and well-draining soil. Amend soil with compost if needed. Rake the top 1/4 inch of soil to create a smooth seed bed. Scatter seeds across the area, spacing about 12 inches apart.
How do you start a blanket flower?
Thin seedlings to 12-15 inches apart once true leaves appear. If getting a head start on growing, you can begin blanket flower seeds indoors: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Use a seed starting mix and sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in cells or trays. Keep soil moist and provide bottom heat of 70°F until sprouted.
How do I choose a blanket flower?
Consider your growing zone, desired flower color, and plant height when selecting the right blanket flower variety to grow from seed. Blanket flower can be grown as an annual or perennial depending on your climate. Here are some tips on timing: Plant seeds directly in the garden after the last spring frost date.
Can you plant blanket flower seeds outside?
Transplant seedlings outside after hardening off. Perennial varieties can be sown directly in the garden in spring once soil temperatures reach 60°F. Sow annual varieties again in late summer for fall blooms. Blanket flower seeds need light to germinate, so sow them directly on the soil surface. Follow these steps:
How long does a blanket flower take to grow?
Germination takes 14-21 days. Thin seedlings to 12-15 inches apart once true leaves appear. If getting a head start on growing, you can begin blanket flower seeds indoors: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Use a seed starting mix and sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in cells or trays.
How do you propagate blanket flowers?
Remember, blanket flowers are short-lived. Allowing some seed to fall to the ground and encouraging seedlings is another way to carry blanket flowers from one season to the next. The easiest way to propagate blanket flowers is to encourage plants to self-sow in the garden. You can also collect seed and start it indoors as described above.