Gaillardia aestivalis
Asteraceae
alternate
sessile
entire, serrate
simple
oblong, lanceolate, oblanceolate
forb
pink, purple, red, yellow
many
April - October
0.3 - 0.6
No
Unarmed
native
annual, perennial
10
Similar to Helenium autumnale and H. drummondii which both have mature inflorescences with yellow centers (disk flowers) while those of Gaillardia aestivalis are purple. Helenium flexuosum also has purple disk flowers but its stems are winged, while those of Gaillardia are not.
The seeds are generally ripe September. Remove the seeds from the heads by rubbing then shake through a screen to remove chaff. Seed viability remains high for several years with proper storage. Plants can be transplanted in fall or winter and cuttings taken during the summer will root under mist (Phillips 1985). Seeds average approximately 590,000/lb. Does not do well with competition from tall plants.
A good nectar source for butterflies and bees.
Dry sandy upland pine woodlands; pimple mounds in coastal prairie.
Desirable ornamental.