Late summer-blooming perennials are the workhorses of the herbaceous perennial border. They help cover holes left by early and mid-summer bloomers, ushering in the cooler days and colors of the fall. Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Red” is a great plant that ticks all of the boxes for the late summer garden. This perennial attracts a wide range of beneficial pollinators late into the season but can tolerate the heat and dryness of late summers in the western portion of the United States.
Arizona Red Blanket Flower is one of the lowest maintenance plants available. The plant is naturally mounding and dense without needing to pinch out branch tips. The deep red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies for an extended period. Blanket Flowers are medium-sized growers that look great massed in the central areas of a border or used in the outer transition zones of a rain garden plan. Arizona Red Blanket Flower looks excellent with other late-season bloomers like Russian Sage, Coneflowers, and Shasta Daisies.
Arizona Red Blanket Flower Care
Plant Gaillardia in well-draining average to poor-nutrition soil. Clay soil is acceptable as long as drainage remains good through the winter. Blanket Flowers thrive in full sun and tolerate shade either early or late in the day. Fertilizing only needs to be done in the spring. Use a granular slow-release fertilizer scratched into the soil around the root zone. Mulching with 2-3 inches of organic compost is also a great way to provide nutrition for these perennials. Water the plants well and consistently for the first 1-2 years. After they are well established, Blanket Flowers are very drought tolerant.
Maintenance for Blanket Flowers couldn’t be easier. There is no need to remove the dead or dying foliage in the fall. Leave the seed heads over the winter for non-migrating birds and other wildlife to forage. Cut back and remove any remaining dead foliage and stems in the spring. Give the plants either a dose of slow-release fertilizer or a 2-3-inch layer of compost around the root zone. Divide and replant Blanket Flowers every 3-4 years or when the blooming vigor has slowed.
Arizona Red Blanket Flower Spacing
The mature size of the Blanket Flower is a compact mound of 10-12 inches tall and wide. When planting in large numbers, space the plants approximately 10 inches apart on center. Use a container with at least a diameter of 8 inches if growing in a pot.
Arizona Red Blanket Flower Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 – 8
Plant Type: Perennial
Light Exposure: Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sunlight)
Mature Height: 10 – 12 Inches
Mature Spread: 12 – 15 Inches
Spacing: 12 – 15 Inches
Habit: Mounded, Spreading, Upright
Flower Color(s): Red, Yellow
Flower Description: Red And Gold
Bloom Period: Summer
Foliage Type: Herbaceous
Foliage Color(s): Green
Foliage Description: N/A
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering
