Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) in Zone 3a & 3b
Gaillardia x grandiflora
When to plant gaillardia (blanket flower) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 25–Sep 1 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.

Gaillardia (blanket flower) is one of the few heat-tolerant annuals here that stays put instead of sprawling across the bed. It forms a tidy 10-15 inch mound and just keeps blooming through the kind of summer heat that shuts down less tolerant flowers.
How gaillardia (blanket flower) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) needs about 80 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Gaillardia (Blanket Flower).
Where to buy gaillardia seeds
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing gaillardia (blanket flower)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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