What Do Blanket Flower Seeds Look Like? A Guide to Identifying Gaillardia Seeds
Blanket flowers, also known as Gaillardia or Indian blankets, are colorful daisy-like flowers popular in gardens Their vibrant red, orange, yellow, and multicolored flowers resemble the colorful blankets made by Native Americans, leading to the common name “blanket flower”
You should know how to spot Gaillardia seeds if you want to grow blanket flowers from them. This article will talk about the most important things about blanket flower seeds to help you identify them.
What are Blanket Flowers?
Blanket flowers, or Gaillardia, are perennial herbs in the asteraceae family. More than 15 species of Gaillardia grow in North America. The most commonly grown are:
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Gaillardia aristata – known as common or perennial blanketflower. Native to western North America.
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Gaillardia pulchella – called annual blanketflower or Indian blanket. Native from Montana to Texas.
Blanket flowers have bright flowers that come in shades of red, orange, yellow, burgundy, and other colors. The flower heads have ray florets surrounding a central disc. They bloom all summer and fall, giving you months of bright color.
In addition to being ornamental, some Gaillardia are edible. You can put the petals in salads and cook the leaves like spinach. Native Americans used the plant to make teas that were good for them.
Blanket Flower Seed Identification Features
Blanket flower seeds develop inside dry, brittle seed heads. When the seeds are ripe and ready for harvest, the heads turn brown and very dry. Gaillardia seeds have these identifying features:
Size: The seeds are small, ranging from 1 to 3 mm long with an oblong, elongated shape.
Color: Fresh seeds are pale brown or tan. Aged seeds become darker brown or blackish.
Surface: The seed surface has a rough, granular texture. Under magnification, tiny ridges or lines are visible lengthwise.
Attached pappus: At one end of the seed is a tufted cluster of whitish bristles called the pappus that aids wind dispersal. Each bristle may be 0.5 to 2 mm long.
Pointed tip: Opposite the pappus, the seed tapers to a narrow pointed tip which helps it penetrate the soil.
Flattened: Most seeds have a flattened oval shape rather than being fully round when viewed from the side. This streamlined form also assists wind dispersal.
Seed heads: The seeds detach from dry, brownish conical seed heads about 1 cm wide, with numerous seeds tightly clustered inside.
When and How to Harvest Gaillardia Seeds
To successfully collect Gaillardia seeds, harvest them at peak ripeness:
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Monitor seed heads starting in mid to late summer. They will dry and turn brown when mature.
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Collect entire heads on a dry, sunny day using pruners.
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Place harvested heads in paper bags. Keep them in a warm, dry spot for about a week to fully dry.
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To extract the seeds, rub the dried heads between your hands over a bowl. The seeds will separate and fall out.
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Remove any remaining flower chaff and debris by sieving or winnowing.
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Store cleaned seeds in sealed packets or jars in a cool, dark place. Blanket flower seeds stay viable for 2 to 3 years when properly stored.
How to Plant Blanket Flower Seeds
Blanket flower seeds can be directly sown outdoors in spring or fall. They need light to germinate so don’t cover too deeply. Follow these tips:
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Prepare seed starting mix or friable garden soil. Blanket flowers thrive in well-draining soil.
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Sow seeds directly in the garden 8-12 weeks before your last expected frost.
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Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep and 6-12 inches apart. Seedlings need space to develop.
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Gently water and keep soil moist but not soggy until seedlings emerge in 1-2 weeks.
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Thin young plants to 12-18 inches apart when 2 true leaves appear.
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Plant in full sun. Blanket flowers thrive in sites with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
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Mulch around seedlings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
With proper care, blanket flower seeds will reward you with brightly colored, drought-resistant flowers in the first year. Save seeds from your healthiest Gaillardia plants each season to increase your flower patch!
Tips for Identifying and Storing Gaillardia Seeds
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Examine unknown seeds carefully under a magnifying glass and compare to Gaillardia seed characteristics.
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Size and shape offer clues – blanket flower seeds are relatively small and oblong.
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The tufted pappus on one end is a distinguishing Gaillardia seed feature.
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True blanket flower seeds will be pale brown to blackish in color. Discard any white, green or brightly colored mystery seeds.
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Only save plump, viable looking seeds for planting. Discard small, shriveled or damaged seeds.
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Store Gaillardia seeds in breathable paper envelopes or glass jars in a cool, dry place away from light.
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Label seed packets with the plant name, variety and year collected. Seeds stay viable for 2-3 years when properly stored.
With knowledge of their unique physical features, identifying blanket flower seeds is straightforward. Follow proper harvesting and storage methods to maintain viability from season to season. Then plant the seeds to enjoy gorgeous, drought-resistant Gaillardia flowers.
DescriptionFlowers of the perennial version of the gaillardia are a little larger than the annual—often up to 3 or 4 inches across, for a real spectacle of color. Effect is so bright, fine flower snobs in the English garden literature often are “shocked” by the “horrid” clashing colors. Not so in nature—a wildflower meadow takes on all colors and loves them all! Common names range from Blanket Flower to Indian Blanket (usually reserved for the annual version) and Firewheel. Seed is fluffy when gathered. See annual,
Collecting Gaillardia Seeds. AKA Blanket Flowers.
FAQ
How to collect seeds from blanket flowers?
To collect blanket flower (Gaillardia) seeds, allow the flower heads to dry on the plant until they turn brown and the petals begin to fall off. Cut the dried flower heads and place them in a paper bag or cardboard box to finish drying indoors.
Do blanket flowers reseed themselves?
Yes, blanket flowers (Gaillardia) are known for self-seeding and will readily reseed themselves in the garden.
How do you propagate blanket flowers?
Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) are easily propagated through seeds, division, or cuttings. Seeds can be sown directly outdoors after the last frost or started indoors 6-8 weeks prior. Division, best done in spring or fall, helps rejuvenate plants and maintain vigor every 2-3 years.
When do blanket flowers bloom?
Blanket flowers are usually planted from nursery starts, but grow easily from seeds planted directly in the garden after the last frost date (or started indoors about four to six weeks early). If they are grown from seeds, they bloom in their second year. However, plants bought at nurseries are usually ready to bloom when they are bought.
What is a blanket flower?
Blanket flower, also known as gaillardia, is an easy-to-grow, short-lived wildflower with richly colored, daisy-like blooms. These fast-growing plants mature to 24 inches tall with a 20-inch spread. This garden favorite puts out large showy blossoms in shades of orange, red, yellow, white, purple, and peach throughout the warm season.
How do blanket flowers grow?
Blanket Flowers can grow in a wide range of gardening zones. Full sun with well-draining soil is the most important. Deadheading, or removing the flowers before they go to seed, is said to prolong the life of the plant.
Can blanket flowers reseed?
The flower can spread easily through your garden from its seeds, and after two years, it can be split in half to make a new plant. Most of the time, blanket flowers are planted from nursery starts, but they can also be grown from seeds planted directly in the garden after the last frost date (or started indoors four to six weeks early).
Are blanket flowers a spreading flower?
Blanket Flowers aren’t considered a “spreading” flower. However, they are known for their excellent ability to self-seed. Blanket Flower seeds can blow easily and if given a chance, they’ll spread their seeds as far as the wind will take them.
How long does it take for blanket flowers to germinate?
Starting seeds indoors means your blanket flowers will start producing blooms sooner. These tips will help you successfully germinate seeds indoors. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Use a heat mat to keep the soil temperature at 70-75ºF. Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate in 14 to 21 days.