Gaillardia pulchella Red Plume seeds - Blanket Flower

The Annual Gaillardia or Gaillardia pulchella 'Red Plume' is an old variety of this short-lived perennial, cultivated as an annual. It develops a slightly loose, medium-sized clump with extra double flowers, in small, brick red pompoms. These flowers enchant with their lightness borders, containers or bouquets. This variety was awarded the "All-America Selections" medal in 1991 for its long flowering period, compact habit and abundance of flowers.

Gaillardia or blanket flower is an Asteraceae that grows in large clumps in sunny and dry prairies of North America. It is loved for its warm colours, its undemanding nature and its very long flowering period from late spring to early autumn. English speakers affectionately call it 'blanket flower' as its colours resemble the patterns and colours of American Indian tapestries. 'Red Plume' comes from the species Gaillardia pulchella, also called gaillardia or Mexican gaillardia, native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has a slightly loose habit and can reach 45 cm in height and 30 cm in width. The numerous stems bear a solitary flower with the unusual look of a double-flowered cornflower that you can enjoy from June to September. The florets, forming the collar, are brick-red. The ligules are irregularly placed, giving the flower a slightly tousled look. The flowers are very double, so much so that they manage to form a perfect sphere of tubular petals. The foliage is deciduous, lanceolate and hairy, often taking on a green-grey hue.

Gaillardia pulchella 'Red Plume' is cultivated as an annual and its size makes it suitable for use as ground cover in borders or mixed borders. Gaillardia likes light and well-drained, but rich soils. It doesn't mind drought or heat, so you can plant it in full sun. As it self-seeds abundantly, be sure to remove faded flowers not only to stimulate new blooms, but also to prevent it from spreading too much. Pair your gaillardias with white Leucanthemum or Scabiosa in a wild meadow or in a border, but also with lavenders or perennial geraniums, in a combination of intense blue and bright red.