An easy-to-care-for garden favorite!
Native to the western half of North America, Blanketflower has been transported to gardens around the world. This should be no surprise, as Blanketflower is a very pleasant little flower. Starting in late spring, Blanketflower sends up several bright yellow flowerheads which can bloom throughout the summer.
It is used by butterflies for its nectar, and by birds for its seeds. While it is not a bee magnet, we do notice a wide variety of native bees visiting it as well. Though we have not seen it in Seattle, there is also a species of moth (Schinia Masoni) which camoflages itself on blanketflower flowers.
Blanketflower is typically found in well-drained meadows and prairies, where there is plenty of sun. Our plants are from a population on the South Sound Prairies, just south of Seattle.
Photo Credit: "Gaillardia aristata JRVdH 02" by Cephas is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo Credit: "Gaillardia aristata" by Matt Lavin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
