Gaillardia aristata
Blanketflower
(c) Oleksandr Shynder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Gaillardia aristata (Blanketflower) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by elevation range, plant height, peduncle length, and disk flower pubescence.
Blanketflower is a naturalized perennial found in eastern Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and southwestern California in open grassy or disturbed sites at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to November, this plant produces distinctive ray flowers in yellow and red, with rays 1 to 3.5 centimeters long and disk flowers featuring deep purple or brown centers with red-purple woolly hairs. Growing with 2 to 7 decimeters tall erect stems emerging from a slender woody taproot, the plant has a somewhat hairy appearance throughout. Its leaves are variable, with lower leaves 5 to 15 centimeters long, ranging from oblong to lance-ovate and capable of being entire or pinnately lobed. The fruit is 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, covered in dense hairs and topped with a 7 to 10 millimeter pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by elevation range, plant height, peduncle length, and disk flower pubescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open grassy or disturbed sites
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: to Canada, Minnesota, Colorado
Bloom period
Gaillardia aristata blooms Jun-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Coreopsis: Seed scales ending in sharp bristles vs. flat scales or none in Coreopsis.; vs Hulsea: Non-native in disturbed sites vs. native alpine/montane specialist.; vs Arctotis: Bristle-tipped seed scales vs. plumy seed tufts in African daisy.; vs Rudbeckia: Ray petals often notched, bristly center vs. drooping rays and smooth cone.; vs Calendula: Bristly receptacle and awn-tipped scales vs. naked receptacle in pot marigold.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gaillardia aristata native to California?
No. Gaillardia aristata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Gaillardia aristata bloom?
Gaillardia aristata blooms Jun-Nov.
What plant family does Gaillardia aristata belong to?
Gaillardia aristata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Gaillardia.
What habitat does Gaillardia aristata grow in?
Gaillardia aristata grows in Open grassy or disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.