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 that are popular in gardens. Their vibrant flowers come in shades of red orange, yellow, and combinations of those colors. Gaillardia get their common name “blanket flower” from their resemblance to the colorful blankets made by Native Americans.

If you want to grow blanket flowers from seed it’s helpful to know what Gaillardia seeds look like so you can properly identify them. In this article, we’ll explore the key characteristics and features of blanket flower seeds to help you recognize them.

What is a Blanket Flower?

Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) are herbaceous perennial plants in the Asteraceae family. There are over 15 species of Gaillardia, most native to North America. The most commonly grown blanket flower species are:

• Gaillardia aristata – commonly called common blanketflower or perennial blanketflower. Native to western North America.

• Gaillardia pulchella – commonly called annual blanketflower or Indian blanket Native from Montana to Texas,

Gaillardia produce colorful flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, burgundy, and combinations of those colors. The flower heads have ray florets surrounding a central disc. They bloom throughout summer and fall, providing months of color.

In addition to being showy ornamentals, some Gaillardia species are edible and have medicinal uses. The flower petals can be eaten in salads, the leaves can be cooked like spinach, and Native Americans used the plant for medicinal teas.

What Do Blanket Flower Seeds Look Like?

Blanket flower seeds are enclosed in dry, brittle seed heads. When the seeds are ripe and ready for harvest, the seed heads will have turned brown and very dry. Here are the key identifying features of Gaillardia seeds:

Size: Blanket flower seeds are relatively small, ranging from 1 to 3 mm long. They have an oblong, elongated shape.

Color: Fresh Gaillardia seeds will be pale brown or tan in color. As seeds dry and age, they become darker brown or even blackish.

Surface: The seed surface has a rough, granular texture. Under magnification, tiny ridges or lines may be visible running lengthwise along the seed.

Attached pappus: At one end of the Gaillardia seed, there is a cluster of whitish or translucent bristles forming the pappus. The pappus is a modified calyx that aids in wind dispersal of the seeds. Each tiny hair-like bristle may be 0.5 to 2 mm long.

Pointed tip: At the end opposite the pappus, the Gaillardia seed tapers to a narrow, pointed tip. This helps the seed penetrate down into the soil when dispersing.

Flattened: When viewed from the side, most blanket flower seeds have a flattened oval shape rather than being fully round. This streamlined shape also assists with seed dispersal by wind.

Seed head: The seeds detach from dry, brownish conical seed heads that are about 1 cm wide. Numerous seeds are clustered tightly together within the seed heads.

When and How to Harvest Gaillardia Seeds

To successfully collect Gaillardia seeds, it’s important to harvest them at peak ripeness:

• Monitor the seed heads starting in mid to late summer. They will turn dry and brown when the seeds are mature.

• Collect seed heads on a dry, sunny day. Use pruners to snip off the entire head.

• Place harvested seed heads in a paper bag. Keep them in a warm, dry location for about a week to fully dry.

• To extract the seeds, rub the dried seed heads between your hands over a bowl or container. The seeds will separate and fall out.

• Remove any remaining flower chaff and debris by sieving or winnowing.

• Store the cleaned Gaillardia seeds in sealed packets or jars in a cool, dark place. Blanket flower seeds can remain 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 them too deeply. Follow these tips for planting Gaillardia seeds:

• Prepare seed starting mix or friable garden soil. Blanket flowers thrive in well-draining soil.

• Sow seeds directly in the garden 8-12 weeks before your last expected frost date.

• Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep and 6-12 inches apart. Gaillardia seedlings need space to develop.

• Water gently and keep the soil moist but not soggy until seedlings emerge in 1-2 weeks.

• Thin young plants to 12-18 inches apart when 2 sets of true leaves appear.

• Plant in full sun. Blanket flowers thrive in sites with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

• Mulch around seedlings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

With proper care, blanket flower seeds will reward you with brightly colored, drought-resistant flowers within the first year. Save seeds from your healthiest Gaillardia plants each season to increase your flower patch!

Tips for Identifying and Storing Gaillardia Seeds

• Examine unknown seeds carefully using a magnifying glass. Compare to the physical characteristics of Gaillardia seeds.

• Size and shape offer clues – blanket flower seeds are relatively small and oblong.

• The presence of a tufted pappus on one end is a distinguishing feature of Gaillardia seeds.

• True blanket flower seeds will be pale brown to blackish in color. Discard any white, green, or brightly colored mystery seeds.

• Save only plump, viable seeds for planting. Discard small, shriveled, damaged seeds.

• Store Gaillardia seeds in paper envelopes or breathable glass jars in a cool, dry location away from direct light.

• Label seed packets with the plant name, variety, and year collected. Blanket flower seeds remain viable for 2-3 years when stored properly.

With knowledge of their unique physical features, identifying blanket flower seeds is easy. Follow proper harvesting and storage methods to maintain seed viability from season to season. Then plant the seeds to enjoy gorgeous, drought-resistant Gaillardia flowers.