GAILLARDIA

Annual blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella). genus of leafy, branching herbs of the family Asteraceae, native to North America. Several summer-blooming species are cultivated as garden ornamentals, especially blanketflower (G. aristata) and annual blanketflower (G. pulchella; see photograph). They have purple disk flowers and yellow, orange, or white ray flowers with three or more teeth that give the plant a fringed appearance. Most have hairy leaves that are either grouped at the base of the plant or alternate along the stem.