Gaillardia pulchella is a native North American annual or short-lived perennial in the sunflower family. It produces daisy-like flowers with ray petals banded in red and yellow, blooming from early summer through hard frost. It grows naturally on prairies, roadsides, and coastal dunes from the Great Plains to the Gulf Coast.
This species performs best in poor, sandy, or gravelly well-drained soil and full sun. Rich soil and excess moisture produce floppy stems and reduce plant longevity. It self-seeds freely and can naturalize in dry, open sites. In zones 8 and warmer it may persist as a short-lived perennial; elsewhere it is treated as an annual. Regular deadheading extends the bloom period; leaving late-season heads standing allows seed to ripen for self-seeding and for birds, particularly goldfinches.
Native bees, including bumblebees and sweat bees, work the flowers heavily through summer and fall. The Comanche applied preparations from this plant topically to treat skin ailments.
Ecoregions:Northwestern Forested MountainsEastern Temperate ForestsGreat PlainsNorth American DesertsTemperate Sierras
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.
Powdery mildew
White or grey powdery coating on leaves - usually starting on older growth in humid conditions or when nights cool.
Improve air circulation by thinning plants. Apply neem oil or potassium bicarbonate spray at first sign. Avoid overhead watering.
Aster Yellows
Deformed, greenish flowers, stunted growth, and yellowed foliage. Flower centers may produce tufts of leafy growth instead of normal petals.
No cure. Remove and destroy infected plants immediately to stop spread. Control leafhoppers, which transmit the disease, and remove nearby weed hosts.
Damping Off
Seedlings collapse at the soil line with thin, water-soaked stems; seeds may fail to emerge or rot before sprouting.
Sow in well-draining mix, avoid overwatering, and ensure good airflow. Remove affected seedlings and let the surface dry between waterings.