Plant · GBIF taxon 5387859
great blanketflower
Gaillardia aristataAlso known as Common Blanketflower, Common Gaillardia, Indian Blanket Flower
Vibrant red and yellow daisy-like blossoms blanket western North American prairies throughout summer, attracting a rich diversity of native pollinators. Deep taproots anchor this hardy perennial in dry, gravelly soils where few other flowers thrive. After pollination, the colorful ray petals drop to reveal fuzzy spherical seed heads that feed native songbirds well into autumn.
Drought TolerantFloweringAttracts Pollinators
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Blanketflower Moth Larvae
- Deer
- Goldfinches
ThreatsHabitat conversion, invasive weed competition, overgrazing
HabitatsDry prairies, montane meadows, sagebrush scrub, roadsides
Life spanPerennial (3 to 5 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesGaillardia aristata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Cultivation: Plant in full sun with well-drained soil to mimic natural prairie conditions.
- Observation: Inspect flowers closely during sunny afternoons to spot specialist moths and native bees.
- Seed Harvesting: Allow seed heads to dry completely on the stem before collecting for propagation.
Host Plant Associate 
Prairie Neighbor (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · cc-by
Prairie Neighbor (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-saFrequent Companion 
Close Relative (c) Conway Hawn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Conway Hawn · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.