Dark red floral splendour from the prairie
Dark Red Blanket Flower 'Burgunder' is a proven variety of the North American Great Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata. Its deep red to wine-red flowers with a dark centre give it a particularly intense, elegant colour effect. The variety was bred in 1931 by Benary & Walther in Germany and remains one of the distinctive red selections of this popular perennial to this day.
'Burgunder' grows firmly upright, bushy and comparatively compact. Depending on location, it reaches about 50 to 75 cm in height. The flowers, about 5 to 10 cm wide, usually appear from June or July to September and create strong colour accents in sunny perennial beds, prairie and steppe plantings, and rock gardens. The variety can also be grown well in containers, provided the substrate is sufficiently well-drained.
The strong, upright flower stems also make 'Burgunder' an excellent cut flower. Regularly removing faded flowers extends the flowering period and encourages the plant to form new buds. After the first major flush of flowers, a light cutback can encourage further reblooming.
Valuable nectar and pollen source in high summer
The open flowers of Blanket Flower are easily accessible to numerous pollinators. They provide nectar and pollen for honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies, beetles and various butterflies. Thanks to its long flowering period, 'Burgunder' is a valuable addition to naturalistic and insect-friendly gardens, especially in high summer.
The species Gaillardia aristata comes from the open grassland and prairie landscapes of North America. Its adaptation to sunny, dry locations explains why 'Burgunder' also copes well with temporary drought once established. Well-drained soil is essential, however, as the plant does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging well.
Sowing and care of Blanket Flower 'Burgunder'
Pre-cultivation can be started indoors or in the greenhouse from March to April. Scatter the seeds onto loose, well-drained seed compost, press them down lightly and cover only very thinly. At around 20 °C and with even moisture, they usually germinate within 14 to 21 days. The substrate should be moist during germination, but never wet.
From May, after the risk of frost has passed, direct sowing outdoors is also possible. Prepare a loose, weed-free seedbed and sow the seeds only on the surface or cover them with a wafer-thin layer. After emergence, thin the young plants to a spacing of about 35 to 40 cm.
Pre-grown young plants can be planted out after the Ice Saints. With an early sowing in March or April, the plants can flower in the first year. A full-sun location with well-drained, sandy-loamy soil is ideal. Heavy soils should be improved with sand or fine gravel so that excess water can drain away reliably.
Once established, 'Burgunder' is well drought-tolerant. Moderate nutrient supply is usually sufficient; excessive fertilisation can encourage soft, lush growth and impair flower formation. Faded flowers should be removed regularly if the longest possible flowering period is desired.
A strong cutback in September is especially important for Blanket Flowers. The shoots are cut back to the basal leaves. This promotes the formation of renewal buds and supports the plant through winter. 'Burgunder' is reliably winter-hardy and is assigned to USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. In exposed locations, light protection with brushwood or mulch can be useful; more important than additional frost protection, however, is well-drained soil without winter waterlogging.
Other names
| Botanical name: |
Gaillardia aristata |
| French names: |
Gaillarde aristée, Gaillarde vivace |
| Spanish names: |
Gallardia, Gaillardia, Gallardia perenne |
| Italian names: |
Gagliarda perenne, Gaillardia perenne, Gaillardia |
| Dutch names: |
Vaste kokardebloem, Kokardebloem |
