The blanket flower stages itself as a tireless permanent bloomer in the summer garden. In the rock garden, in flower borders and in pots, the floral flame wheels attract everyone's attention. In any sunny spot in your green kingdom, the colorful daisy family is not above filling in the gaps. Explore professional cultivation here with precise answers to frequently asked questions.

The blanket flower is a colorful permanent bloomer

Plant blanket flower correctly

The departure of the ice saints marks the beginning of the planting season for the blanket flower. In the sunny location, dig small planting pits in the sandy, loose soil with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball. A planting distance of 35-40 cm is considered appropriate. You create a picturesque appearance if you arrange the perennials in small tuffs with 10-20 specimens. In each pit you put a flower as deep in the earth as before in the seed pot. The addition of compost and horn shavings (€32.93) creates ideal starting conditions for a flowering season. No less important is an adequate supply of irrigation water on the day of planting and in the period that follows.

care tips

In contrast to the spirited appearance in beds and tubs, the cockade flower is reserved in terms of care. How to treat the painter's flower correctly:

  • Water moderately when dry
  • Treat with compost or liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from May to September
  • Clean out wilted flower heads as soon as possible
  • At the beginning of September, cut the perennial close to the ground and cover it with leaves

Please do not underestimate the time of pruning in autumn. If this takes place too late, a Gaillardia lacks enough time to produce the vital winter shoots.
Continue reading

Which location is suitable?

The painter's flower achieves its optimum in a sunny, warm and sheltered location. While the towering varieties do not like a windy location at all, the stable 'Kobold' or the dainty 'Bijou' would like an air-flushed place in the sun.

What soil does the plant need?

You set the course for a flowering course if you settle the cockade flower in loose, humus-rich and sandy-loamy soil. In view of this requirement, it is not surprising that the perennial feels extremely comfortable in the rock garden or the steppe bed. Correspondingly, potting soil thinned with sand or fine grit comes on the shortlist as a pot substrate, ideally enriched with lava granules (€13.99) or perlite (€37.51) breathing flakes.

When is flowering time?

From June to September, the cockade flower beats its floral pinwheels in the bed and on the balcony. Since a single flower does not have this staying power, clean wilted daisy flowers regularly. In this way, the well-groomed appearance is preserved and the flowering period extends into autumn.

Properly cut the blanket flower

The experienced hobby gardener always has the pruning shears to hand when he pays a visit to his blanket flowers. The picturesque summer flower is cut on these occasions:

  • As a vase decoration in the morning hours when the flowers have just opened
  • Trim wilted flowers to make room for rebloom
  • Cut back to ground level in early/mid-September

The last cut is also one of the most important care measures. In this way you encourage a Gaillardia to plant again before winter. Without this tuft of leaves, the flower will not get through the cold season unscathed.
Continue reading

Water blanket flower

Water a blanket flower moderately. When in doubt, the summer beauty would rather stay dry for a short time than struggle with waterlogging. Only pour the water slowly onto the root ball in order to recognize in good time when no more moisture is being absorbed. Potted flowers tell you when the first drops run into the saucer.

Fertilize the blanket flower properly

In the bed, the cockade flower gratefully accepts a portion of compost with horn shavings every 3-4 weeks. The application of fertilizer ends with the pruning before winter. The same applies to potted flowers. From May to September, apply a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 2 weeks. In the winter quarters there is no nutrient supply between October and April.

hibernate

The linchpin of a successful overwintering is the sharp pruning in autumn at the right time. Cut the blanket flower back to the ground in early/mid-September. The perennial then restocks by forming the vital overwintering shoots. If this date for the cut is missed, the chances of a Gaillardia surviving drop dramatically. In addition, we recommend covering it with leaves or straw to protect against permanent wetness and the bitter cold. Please place pots with a diameter of less than 30 cm in frost-free winter quarters. Larger planters are given a winter coat made of fleece, jute or bubble wrap and a warm wooden base.

Propagating Blanket Flower

If you are striving for a single-variety propagation, the division of the root ball comes into focus. The best time to do this is in spring, when the ground has completely thawed. If, on the other hand, you are planning a larger number of blanket flowers, sowing the seeds makes more sense. Certified seeds from specialist retailers ensure which attributes the flowers have. Sow on peat sand, just press the light germinators and shower them with soft water. At a constant 20 degrees Celsius, the first cotyledons emerge after 10-14 days. For further care, place the seedlings a little cooler at 16-18 degrees Celsius. Until mid-May you will hold numerous vital blanket flowers in your hands, strong enough to plant out.

How do I plant correctly?

Pick up the root ball every 3-4 years to replant after a division. This measure contributes significantly to the fact that the cockade flower is preserved as a perennial for a long time. A suitable date is in spring, as soon as there is no longer any threat of ground frost. Cut the plant into two or more parts. Each segment with 2-3 eyes has the potential to become an adult painter's flower.

Blanket flower in pot

In the pot and balcony box, the painter's flowers spread their colorful fireworks in a sunny, warm and sheltered location. Fill in loose potting soil, enriched with quartz sand and perlite, over a water-bearing layer of pebbles or potsherds. The planting depth in the seed pot should be maintained as much as possible. Water the painter's flower only moderately. From May to September, spoil the fiery blossom beauty with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. At the beginning of September, cut the perennial close to the ground to resettle it in frost-free winter quarters.

Beautiful varieties

  • Burgundy: Magnificent cockade flower that sets colorful eye-catchers with its deep red blossom wheels; 50-60cm
  • Tokaj: Majestic painter's flower with orange-colored flowers, ideal as a backdrop plant in perennial beds; 70-80cm
  • Kobold: A stable variety with red ray florets ending in yellow, for beds and balconies; 30-40cm
  • Arizona Sun: Beautiful and colorful, like a sunset; 2006 Gold Medal variety; 20-30cm
  • Amber Wheels: Gaillardia with predominantly yellow flowers that compete with the sun; 60-70cm
  • Bijou: The smallest jewel among the blanket flowers, with semi-double blooms of red, yellow and scarlet; 25 cm

´

Category:

Herbs