Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
- Native to:
- Guam, Palau, United States
iNaturalist: © jblinde (iNaturalist #353605406)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Gaillardia
- Species:
- Gaillardia pulchella
- USDA Symbol:
- GAPU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- red, yellow, orange
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American sunflower moth (Homoeosoma electella), Bina flower moth (Schinia bina), Painted Schinia Moth (Schinia volupia), Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble (Bombus pensylvanicus), Brachymelecta californica, Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Epimelissodes obliqua, Hunt's bumble (Bombus huntii), Nomada texana, Triepeolus concavus, Triepeolus lunatus, Two-spotted Longhorn (Melissodes bimaculatus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Xylocopa micans, Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) Moths:Painted Schinia Moth (Schinia volupia), Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Junonia stemosa, Little Yellow (Eurema lisa), Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa), Microtia elada, ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Texan crescent (Anthanassa texana), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from crown after fire and readily reseeds in disturbed post-fire areas; common in fire-maintained prairies and coastal grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed, sandy areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with light; do not cover deeply. Best at 70°F soil temperature.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.