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Plant care

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' (Burgundy blanket flower) care

Gaillardia 'Burgundy'

Also called Burgundy blanket flower, wine-red blanket flower.

RHS H6USDA 3–10Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 60–75 cm tall

Watering rhythm

2weeks

Once or twice a week during the first season; once every 2 weeks or less when established

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sandy or well-drained lean loam

Humidity

30–55%

Temp

-15 to 38°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

60–75 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Full sun is essential — at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun. The deep burgundy pigmentation is most saturated in high light. Partial shade leads to poor flowering and increased disease susceptibility. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for gaillardia 'burgundy' — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering gaillardia 'burgundy': once or twice a week during the first season; once every 2 weeks or less when established. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. 'Burgundy' is one of the more heat-tolerant Gaillardia cultivars and handles dry summers well. Avoid standing water around the crown at any time.

Soil and pot

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' grows best in sandy or well-drained lean loam. Tolerates poor, thin soils well and actually performs better in lean conditions than in rich soils. Good drainage is non-negotiable. Incorporate grit or pea gravel into heavier soils to improve drainage. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' sits happiest at around 30–55% humidity and -15 to 38°C (5 to 100°F). Best in moderate to low humidity. In humid climates, ensure generous plant spacing and remove any spent or diseased foliage promptly. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed gaillardia 'burgundy' sparingly. A single light application of a balanced fertiliser in spring is adequate. Avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds, which produce lush leaves but few flowers and shorten the plant's lifespan in lean-soil conditions. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on gaillardia 'burgundy' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Crown and root rot — Most common in wet, poorly drained soils. Amend with grit or plant in raised beds.
  • Legginess — In partial shade or rich soils plants become floppy. Cut back by one-third in midsummer to encourage compact regrowth.
  • Short lifespan in humid climates — Gaillardia hybrids may be biennial in wet climates. Regular seed collection or division ensures continuity.
  • Powdery mildew — Can appear in late summer. Improve airflow and avoid overhead watering.
  • Slugs — Young plants are susceptible in spring. Apply organic controls until plants are established.

Companion plants

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' pairs well with Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm', Salvia nemorosa 'East Friesland', Verbena bonariensis, and Lavandula angustifolia. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Propagate from seed sown indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost; germination at 20°C takes 2–3 weeks. Divide established clumps every 2–3 years in spring to maintain vigour and extend plant life. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is mildly toxic to pets. Gaillardia is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but ingestion has been associated with mild gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhoea) in dogs and cats. Treat the genus as mildly toxic and discourage pets from eating the foliage or flowers. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Gaillardia 'Burgundy'?

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is most commonly called Gaillardia 'Burgundy', but it is also known as Burgundy blanket flower, wine-red blanket flower. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Gaillardia 'Burgundy' apply identically to anything sold as Burgundy blanket flower.

How much light does gaillardia 'burgundy' need?

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun is essential — at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun. The deep burgundy pigmentation is most saturated in high light. Partial shade leads to poor flowering and increased disease susceptibility.

How often should I water gaillardia 'burgundy'?

Water gaillardia 'burgundy' once or twice a week during the first season; once every 2 weeks or less when established. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. 'Burgundy' is one of the more heat-tolerant Gaillardia cultivars and handles dry summers well. Avoid standing water around the crown at any time. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is gaillardia 'burgundy' toxic to cats and dogs?

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is mildly toxic to pets. Gaillardia is not individually listed by the ASPCA, but ingestion has been associated with mild gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhoea) in dogs and cats. Treat the genus as mildly toxic and discourage pets from eating the foliage or flowers.

What USDA hardiness zone does gaillardia 'burgundy' grow in?

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is rated for USDA zone 3–10 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of gaillardia 'burgundy' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is also commonly called Burgundy blanket flower or wine-red blanket flower.