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Manitoba Museum


Aster (Asteraceae)

Gaillardia

Gaillardia aristata Pursh

Gaillardia was named for Gaillard de Marentonneau, an 18th century French botanist. Its flowers are not scented, but attract summer pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and beetles that use it for food, rest, and shelter. This plant has also been used for disturbed site rehabilitation and to produce wildflower sod for native plant restoration. Its tolerance to drought and attractive yellow and purple flowers make a good addition to any prairie garden.

Flower Colour:

  • Orange

Flowering Season:

  • Summer

Flowering Months:

  • August
  • July
  • June

Canadian Rarity Status:

Not rare. Listed as “exotic” in Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon.

Physical Appearance:

This hairy perennial has one to several, sometimes branching stems that grow to 70 cm tall. Its alternate, hairy leaves are lance to spatula-shaped with smooth or coarsely-lobed edges. Single flower heads occur on long stalks. Each one has 60-120 purple, inner disc flowers with woolly hairs and 12-18 yellow, outer ray flowers with purple bases and 3-lobed tips. Fruits contain a single seed with a tuft of hair.

Similar Species:

Common Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.)

Gardening Notes:

Seeds and/or plants are typically available from greenhouses and seed supply companies specializing in native plants. Plants are a good addition to butterfly and prairie/meadow gardens, and can be grown from seeds or by dividing plants.

Canadian Distribution:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Northwest Territories
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon

Prairie Types:

  • Fescue Prairie
  • Mixed Grass Prairie
  • Tall Grass Prairie

Habitats:

  • Montane Meadows
  • Open Woodlands
  • Prairies
  • Railways
  • Roadsides

Moisture Conditions:

  • Dry
  • Moderate

Light Preference:

  • Full Sun

Soil Preference:

  • Clay
  • Sand
  • Silt
Gaillardia