by Melody Kendall

We did a total makeover of our back yard landscape last summer.  We removed the pool and added a ‘multi roomed' garden oasis.  We love it! 

The plants in the new landscape have been in the ground since October, and though some of them are slower than others, they all seem to be settling in nicely. 

Our Gaillardia spp. or blanket flower plants are among the overachievers in our new landscape. They were in 6” pots last October and bloomed their hearts out. Their new season of blooms started in March with an explosion of color. They just keep getting brighter, bolder and more prolific as the months progress. 

Gaillardia prefers full sun, well-drained soil and has low water needs once established.  These are all good attributes which fit right into our low-water garden plans, but the main reason we chose the blanket flower was because it attracts a diverse population of bees. The day we planted the gaillardia plants the bees were already checking out the flowers, and by the next day the plants were buzzing.  Because of the gaillardia's long blooming season, the bees will have a ready source of nectar and pollen from early spring through late fall. 

I remember the day I planted the six plants in their new garden beds, following all the proper transplanting procedures.  I loosened the plant in the pot and held the pot in one hand and loosely supported the plant along my arm while I gently removed each plant from its container.  About an hour afterwards I started itching.  Not horribly, but noticeably enough that I wondered what was causing the itching. Yes, the culprit was the blanket flower. All parts of the plant contain sesquiterpene lactones, a chemical compound common in many plants that can be a skin irritant if the sap gets on you.  Since I cradled the plants along my bare arm I had definitely come in contact with the sap.  Fortunately, a quick shower remedied all my itching.  I have since done some research and found information on sesquiterpene lactonesthat mention it has been used in traditional folk medicine treatments for many ailments and studies are currently being made on using it to make tumors sensitive to conventional drug treatments.  Be that as it may, note to self, when deadheading or weeding around these plants wear gloves and long sleeves.

Another interesting note about the gaillardia plant is that it is considered a ‘Zone 1 firewise species plant'.  This means that the blanket flower plant, with its fire-resistance score of 8, can be included in the Zone 1 area around your home.  A ‘firewise plant' means this plant is less likely to burn or will burn less hot and usually means that the plant is considered a low-maintenance and slow growing plant.  Remember, though, that ALL plants will burn under extreme conditions. 

I decided to enjoy my blanket flower plants from afar. I'll be sitting in my deck chair with a glass of iced tea, enjoying the spectacular splashes of color while listening to the buzzing of the bees.  

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Mel Kendall

Informational Links:

Monrovia-Gaillardia https://www.monrovia.com/sunset-snappy-blanket-flower.html

UCMG Marin-Planting for success http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/CARE/PLANTING/

Xerces Society https://xerces.org/blog/plants-for-pollinators-blanketflower

International Journal of Molecular Sciences-sesquiterpene lactones benefits to plants & people

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709812/

UCMG Sonoma-Firewise landscaping http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Firewise_Landscaping/