Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) are cheerful, drought-tolerant perennials known for their vibrant, daisy-like blooms that often feature shades of red, orange, and yellow. These hardy plants offer a continuous display of color from late spring through fall, making them a popular choice for many garden styles. The practice of companion planting involves strategically placing different plant species together in a garden to create mutually beneficial relationships. This article explores how to select and integrate companion plants specifically with blanket flowers to enhance their growth, health, and overall aesthetic appeal.
Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting offers several advantages for blanket flowers. Grouping compatible plants can enhance their growth by improving soil conditions and nutrient availability. Certain companions also boost pest resistance by attracting beneficial insects or deterring pests through scent or chemical properties.
Beyond pest management, companion planting helps suppress weed growth by creating dense ground cover, reducing competition for resources. The diverse root systems of various plants can improve soil structure, aeration, and water penetration, contributing to healthier soil over time. Visually, combining blanket flowers with complementary plants adds layers of texture, varied forms, and a broader spectrum of colors, enhancing the garden’s beauty.
Selecting Ideal Companion Plants
Choosing the right companion plants for blanket flowers requires considering environmental factors. Blanket flowers flourish in full sun, needing at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily, so companions should share this requirement. They are also highly drought-tolerant once established and prefer well-draining, even poor or sandy, soil. Select plants with similar water and soil preferences to avoid overwatering or nutrient imbalances.
Considering the mature size and growth habit of companion plants is important to prevent overshadowing or overcrowding. Taller plants should be positioned behind blanket flowers, allowing both to receive adequate light and air circulation. Selecting plants with varied bloom times and complementary colors or textures can extend the garden’s visual interest, creating a dynamic display throughout the growing season.
Top Companion Plants for Blanket Flowers
Many plants thrive alongside blanket flowers, sharing their need for full sun and well-drained conditions. Salvia provides a striking contrast with its cool-toned blue or purple flowers against the warm hues of blanket flowers. Both share similar growing needs and attract pollinators. Coreopsis, another sun-loving perennial, offers a harmonious blend with blanket flowers due to its similar daisy-like flower shape and wide range of yellow and orange shades.
Echinacea, or coneflower, with its large, daisy-like blooms and taller structure, provides excellent textural contrast and attracts beneficial insects. Sedum, or stonecrop, is an ideal match for its drought tolerance and succulent foliage, introducing a different texture to the planting. Ornamental grasses, such as Blue Fescue or Fountain Grass, add movement and fine texture, complementing the bold blooms of gaillardia.
Yarrow is another resilient companion, known for its flat-topped flower clusters in various colors, attracting pollinators and thriving in dry conditions. Catmint, with its purple-blue flowers, pairs well with blanket flowers, creating a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant combination that blooms from late spring through fall. Lavender offers fragrant blooms, attracts pollinators, and thrives in similar dry, sunny conditions.
Certain herbs like Thyme and Oregano can serve as effective companions. They generally prefer well-draining soil and full sun, and their low-growing habits can act as a living mulch, suppressing weeds while adding aromatic interest. Shasta daisies, with their white petals, provide a contrast to the warm colors of blanket flowers and can be placed behind them due to their taller stature. Blazing Star (Liatris) offers vertical interest with its spiky purple flowers that bloom in late summer, attracting butterflies.
Designing Your Blanket Flower Display
Careful arrangement of blanket flowers and their companions enhances both the health and visual appeal of the garden. Grouping plants with similar light and water requirements ensures that all species receive optimal conditions. Consider the mature size and height of each plant to create a layered effect, placing taller companions at the back or center of a bed and shorter ones towards the front. This layering allows adequate sunlight and air circulation for all plants.
Varying textures and colors among companion plants can create visual interest throughout the growing season. For instance, the fine foliage of ornamental grasses can soften the bold blooms of blanket flowers, while contrasting flower shapes add depth. Proper spacing is important to allow each plant to reach its full potential without competing excessively for resources. Planning the layout before planting helps achieve a cohesive and healthy garden bed that showcases the beauty of blanket flowers.
Ongoing Care for Companion Plantings
Maintaining a garden bed featuring blanket flowers and their companions involves straightforward practices. While established blanket flowers are self-sufficient, providing supplemental water during prolonged dry spells helps ensure continuous blooming, especially in their first year. Watering should be deep but infrequent, allowing the soil to dry out between applications to prevent root issues.
Blanket flowers have low fertilization needs and often thrive in lean soil, so heavy fertilization is typically unnecessary. If needed, a light application of a balanced fertilizer in spring can suffice, but avoid over-fertilizing. Regular deadheading of spent blooms encourages new flowers and maintains a tidy appearance. Weeding helps reduce competition for nutrients and water, contributing to the overall health of the companion planting.