GaillardiaGaillardiaLacy Bird Encyclopedia
focal · easy · budget
Gaillardia
Gaillardia · aka blanket flower, firewheel
Gaillardia, the blanket flower, blazes with hot bands of red, orange and gold radiating from a raised central disc, evoking a prairie sunset. Florists use it as a small, fiery focal that lends warmth and a boho, sun-baked feel to summer and autumn designs. The daisy heads sit on tidy, upright stems and combine easily with grasses and other meadow blooms. Tough, colourful and affordable, it is a dependable seasonal workhorse.
At a glance
| Family | Asteraceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | North and South America |
| Peak season | July, August |
| Availability | June, July, August, September |
| Stem length | 30–50 cm |
| Vase life | 5–7 days |
| Colors | red, orange, yellow, bicolor, bronze |
| Price tier | budget |
Conditioning
Cut stems at an angle and condition in cool, clean water for a few hours before arranging. Strip any leaves below the waterline to slow bacterial growth. Gaillardia lasts best picked when the ray petals have just opened fully; refresh the water every couple of days to hold the warm banded colour.
Care in the vase
- •Pick blooms just fully open
- •Remove submerged foliage
- •Condition in cool water first
- •Change water every two days
- •Keep away from heat sources
