Bicoloured Blanket Flower 'Bremen' (Gaillardia aristata) seeds
- Dark red flowers with bright yellow tips - classic, perennial Blanket Flower for sunny perennial beds and prairie plantings.
- The seed packet contains approx. 150 open-pollinated seeds of Blanket Flower 'Bremen'.
- Drought-tolerant, reliably winter-hardy and suitable as a cut flower - with plenty of nectar and pollen for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
€2.59
No longer available
Description
Classic Blanket Flower in red and gold
Bicoloured Blanket Flower 'Bremen' is a well-known older variety of the Great Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata and has been cultivated since 1929. Its striking flowers show an intense play of colour in dark red and bright yellow tips. The daisy-like flower heads reach about 5 to 10 cm in diameter, depending on location, and sit on upright, slender stems.
The perennial plant grows about 60 to 75 cm tall and has an upright to loosely bushy habit. From July to September, new flowers appear continuously, and in favourable weather sometimes earlier and into October. With its clear bicolour effect, 'Bremen' creates strong accents in sunny perennial beds, prairie plantings and naturalistic garden areas.
The variety is also well suited as a cut flower. Its sturdy flower stems and contrasting blooms make it a striking addition to summer bouquets. Cutting back after the first flowering can encourage an attractive second flush in late summer and autumn.
Long-flowering perennial for bees, bumblebees and butterflies
The open flowers of Blanket Flower provide plenty of nectar and pollen and are visited by bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, beetles and butterflies. Especially in high summer, when some other plants are already taking a break from flowering, 'Bremen' provides a valuable food supply over many weeks.
If individual seed heads are allowed to ripen, the plant can also self-sow. In suitable locations, 'Bremen' self-seeds readily and can thus maintain itself in the garden. If its spread should be limited, it is advisable to remove faded flowers regularly.
Plant profile
| Plant type | Herbaceous plant |
|---|---|
| Use | Cut flower, Good insect food plant, Ornamental plant |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Species | Asteraceae |
| Seed propagation | konventionell |
| Region of origin | North America |
| Characteristics | Drought tolerant, Food for bees, Needs light to germinate, Self-seeds, Winter-hardy |
| Eventual height | 20-60 cm |
| Flower colour | Red, Yellow |
| Flowering months | August, July, June, October, September |
| Root system | Deep roots, Taproot |
| Winter hardiness zones | 3 (-40 bis -34 °C) |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | August, July, June, May |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 0 cm |
| Germination temperature | 18-24° C |
| Germination time | 2-3 weeks |
| Climate | Dry, Temperate |
| Soil type | Deep, Free-draining, Moderate nutrient levels, Undemanding |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Water requirement | Low |
| Planting distance | 30 cm |
Sowing and care
Sowing and care of Blanket Flower 'Bremen'
Pre-cultivation can be started indoors or in the greenhouse from March to April. The seeds need light to germinate and are therefore scattered onto loose, well-drained seed compost, lightly pressed down and covered at most with a wafer-thin layer of soil or sand. At around 15 to 20 °C, they usually germinate within 14 to 21 days. Keep the substrate evenly moist during the germination phase, but do not let it become waterlogged.
From May, as soon as no stronger frosts are expected, direct sowing outdoors is also possible. Prepare a loose, weed-free seedbed, sow the seeds on the surface, press them down lightly and cover only very thinly. After emergence, thin the young plants to a spacing of about 30 to 40 cm.
Pre-grown young plants can be planted outdoors after the Ice Saints. 'Bremen' prefers a full-sun location with loose, well-drained, sandy-loamy soil. Heavy soils should be improved with sand or fine gravel so that excess water can drain away well. Waterlogging should be avoided, especially in winter.
Once established, Blanket Flower is well drought-tolerant and gets by with moderate watering. Restrained fertilisation is usually sufficient. Soils that are too nutrient-rich or heavy fertilisation can lead to softer growth and reduced flowering.
Cutting back to about hand height in late summer or autumn supports the formation of strong overwintering buds and encourages compact new growth the following year. 'Bremen' is reliably winter-hardy in Central Europe and is assigned approximately to USDA hardiness zone 6. In exposed locations, light protection with brushwood or mulch can be useful.
Other names
Botanical name: Gaillardia aristata
German: Prärie-Kokardenblume, Kokardenblume, Grannen-Kokardenblume, Malerblume, Papageienblume
English: Blanket Flower, Blanketflower, Great Blanket Flower, Common Blanketflower, Common Gaillardia, Great-flowered Gaillardia
French: Gaillarde aristée, Gaillarde vivace
Italian: Gagliarda perenne, Gaillardia perenne, Gaillardia
Spanish: Gallardia, Gaillardia, Gallardia perenne
Dutch: Vaste kokardebloem, Kokardebloem
Login
