Goblin blanket flower

Sun

Full sun; flowering is poorer and stems may flop in shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Avoid consistently damp soil, especially in winter.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil, preferably of low to moderate fertility. Heavy clay needs improved drainage or a raised bed.

Height

0.75-1 ft (0.23-0.3 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Early summer into autumn; red ray petals with golden-yellow tips surround a reddish-brown central disc.

Foliage

Grey-green, hairy leaves, mostly narrow to lance-shaped, forming a low clump.

Growth

Fast; usually flowers in its first growing season.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.9 ft (0.27 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sunny, freely draining position.
• Water deeply during establishment, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Avoid rich manure and heavy feeding; excess fertility encourages floppy growth.
• Keep mulch away from the crown, particularly where winters are wet.
• Divide healthy clumps in spring every two or three years if they become crowded or flower less.

Pruning. Remove faded flower heads regularly to prolong flowering. In early autumn, cut flowering stems back to the basal foliage so the plant can build reserves before winter; remove remaining dead growth in spring.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps once the ground is workable and no longer waterlogged.

Spring

Remove dead stems without damaging new basal growth.

Early summer

Check newly planted clumps regularly and water when the root zone starts to dry.

Summer

Deadhead spent flowers and watch for aphids or mildew.

Early autumn

Cut flowering stems back to the basal leaves rather than encouraging flowering until frost.

Winter

Keep the crown free of wet leaves and check that water drains away.

• Edge a sunny border with low clumps of warm red and yellow flowers.
• Plant in gravel gardens with lavender and low ornamental grasses for contrasting foliage and drought tolerance.
• Group near purple-flowered salvia or catmint for a strong warm-and-cool colour contrast.
• Use in sunny containers with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix.
• Add to pollinator borders where its open flowers are easy for insects to reach.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Pollinator garden, Dry gravel garden, Hot border, Desert / xeriscape and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Catmint, Perennial salvia, Lavender, Yarrow, Threadleaf coreopsis and Blue fescue.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Seed heads can provide food for small seed-eating birds if some are left to mature.

• Crown and root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch off the crown and replace badly rotted plants.
• Powdery mildew: provide full sun and good spacing, and remove badly affected foliage.
• Aphids on young shoots: dislodge them with a firm spray of water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Short lifespan or poor return after winter: avoid rich soil and winter wet, cut back flowering stems in early autumn, and renew ageing clumps.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. The hairy leaves and stems can irritate sensitive skin, so wear gloves if needed; it is not an edible plant.

• Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)

  Its red-and-yellow flowers can look almost identical, but it is usually grown as an annual and often has a taller, looser habit. A label is the safest way to distinguish young plants.

• Lanceleaf blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)

  Usually taller and less compact than 'Kobold', with larger clumps and flowers that may be mostly yellow or have red bases.

• Dwarf plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)

  Has much finer, divided foliage and smaller yellow flowers with dark red centres, rather than the broad red rays and hairy lance-shaped leaves of 'Kobold'.

Gaillardia honours the French botanical patron Gaillard de Charentonneau, grandiflora means large-flowered, and the German cultivar name 'Kobold' means goblin.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring to retain the cultivar's characteristics. Seed can be sown in spring, but saved seed may produce plants that differ in size or flower colour from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Gaillardia grandiflora

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.