Red Dome Blanketflower

(Gaillardia pinnatifida)

Red Dome Blanketflower (Gaillardia pinnatifida)

Andrey Zharkikh

CC BY 2.0

Image By: Andrey Zharkikh

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Gaillardia pinnatifida, commonly known as Red Dome Blanketflower, is a deciduous perennial subshrub or herb native to arid and semi-arid regions including blackbrush scrub, mixed shrub-grasslands, and pinyon-juniper woodlands in the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Great Plains. It typically grows to 22 inches (56 cm) in height and features hairy, wavy to lobed leaves that can reach up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. The leaves grow halfway up the stem, culminating in a solitary flower head with 7-12 yellow ray flowers and numerous densely packed orange-brown to purple disk flowers. The ray flowers are characteristically three-lobed, often deeply so. Flowering occurs from early summer to fall, with the blooms being highly attractive to pollinators.

The Red Dome Blanketflower is valued for its drought tolerance and vibrant, long-lasting flowers that add color to gardens and landscapes. It is well-suited for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and border fronts, and is often used to attract butterflies and other pollinators. This plant thrives in full sun and is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. While it requires medium amounts of water, it is quite drought-resistant once established. It is not known for any significant disease or pest issues, but overwatering or poor drainage can lead to root rot.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Subshrub, Herb
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Orange
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to arid and semi-arid regions including blackbrush scrub, mixed shrub-grasslands, and pinyon-juniper woodlands

Other Names

Common Names: Blanketflower, Hopi Blanketflower, Red-Dome Blanketflower, Slender Gaillardia, Yellow Blanketflower

Scientific Names: , Gaillardia pinnatifida, Gaillardia flava, Gaillardia crassa, Gaillardia pinnatifida var. linearis, Gaillardia gracilis, Gaillardia linearis, Gaillardia mearnsii, Gaillardia globosa, Gaillardia crassifolia

GBIF Accepted Name: Gaillardia pinnatifida Torr.