Gaillardia pulchella (Indian Blanket)
Also known as Firewheel and Blanketflower.
Indian Blanket is a showy, drought-tolerant wildflower that appears just as the Bluebonnets are finishing. It is reseeds readily and is easy to grow as long as the soil is well draining. To encourage seed production for the following year, it is best to wait three weeks after the peak flowering season before mowing. It forms dense colonies of brilliant red flowers with yellow rims. Thrives in heat and full sun in well draining soils. The bloom period can be prolonged by deadheading and supplemental summer watering.
Indian Blanket can be used in mass plantings for beds and borders., rock gardens, naturalized area, meadows, pocket prairies, cottage gardens or native wildflower gardens.
AT A GLANCE
| Texas native | Yes |
| Water use | Medium |
| Sun exposure | Full sun, part sun |
| Bloom color | Yellow, orange |
| Bloom time | Spring, summer |
| Mature height | 1-2 ft |
| Attracts | Butterflies, bees |
| Host plant | Common Buckeye, Bordered Patch and Checkerspot butterflies. |
| Notes | Needs good drainage. Native bee friendly. |
DISTRIBUTION MAPS
 Present in state |
 Present in county and native |
 Native to North America, but adventive & escaped in state |
 Not present in state |
 Present and rare, native in county |
 Previously present, now extinct |
 Questionable presence (cross-hatched, regardless of color) |