Sam’s Plant of the week

This week I asked my co-worker Sam what his favourite plant was. He chose the Blanket Flower/Indian Blanket (Gaillardia Pulchella) which is a perennial plant.

What makes this plant a good choice?

1.) The Blanket Flower is low maintenance, is relatively easy to grow, and requires minimal care once established. It is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for regions with limited water availability.

2.)This plant attracts pollinators! The bright flowers are attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Planting these flowers in your garden can help support pollinator populations and promote biodiversity.

3.) It has a long blooming season, often from late spring through early fall. This extended bloom period provides continuous color in your garden throughout the growing season.

4.) It is very versatile in terms of where it can be grown. It thrives in a variety of soil types, including well-drained soils, and can adapt to different growing conditions, making it suitable for many regions.

How to care for your Blanket Flower

Planting Location:

• Choose a well-draining location with full sun. It prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Watering:

• Water a newly planted Blanket flower regularly to help them establish roots. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and generally require less water. You need to water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth.

Pruning and Deadheading:

• Deadhead dead flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming.
• In late fall or early spring, you can cut the plants back to encourage fresh growth.

Fertilizing:

• They typically do not require heavy fertilization. In nutrient-rich soils, they may not need any additional fertilizer. If your soil is poor, you can apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring.

Mulching:

• Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. You can use woodchips or straw for mulching.

Now that you have a little bit more information on the Blanket flower, I hope that you will consider adding it to your garden! I am always trying to find plants that help encourage pollinators and this is a spectacular one to add to the collection!