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Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' (Sun Devil blanket flower) care

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil'

Also called Sun Devil blanket flower, blanket flower, Indian blanket.

RHS H6USDA 3-10Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 30-45 cm tall

Watering rhythm

10-14days

Every 10-14 days once established; drought-tolerant

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Poor to moderately fertile, very well-drained sandy or gravelly soil

Humidity

30-50%

Temp

10-38°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

30-45 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Full sun is essential — Gaillardia thrives in 6-8+ hours of direct sunlight. It is native to hot, open prairies and tolerates intense heat. Shade produces leggy, disease-prone plants with far fewer flowers. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for gaillardia 'sun devil' — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering gaillardia 'sun devil': every 10-14 days once established; drought-tolerant. 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. Extremely drought-tolerant once roots are established. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering or waterlogged soil is a primary cause of failure; reduce watering significantly in autumn.

Soil and pot

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' grows best in poor to moderately fertile, very well-drained sandy or gravelly soil. Gaillardia performs best in lean, infertile soils with excellent drainage. It declines rapidly in rich, moist soils. Avoid clay; add grit liberally to heavy soils. pH 6.0-7.5 is ideal. 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 'Sun Devil' sits happiest at around 30-50% humidity and 10-38°C (50-100°F). Prefers dry to moderate humidity. High humidity combined with poor drainage severely shortens plant life. In humid climates, ensure perfect drainage and good airflow to extend longevity. If you keep the room above 10 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 'sun devil' sparingly. Do not over-fertilise — rich soil shortens plant life. At most, apply a single light dressing of low-nitrogen slow-release granules in spring. Feeding is largely unnecessary in lean garden soils. 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 'sun devil' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot and crown rot — The single most common cause of death. Caused by overwatering or poorly drained soil. Always grow in free-draining lean soil; never mulch over the crown.
  • Powdery mildew — Affects older foliage in humid conditions. Improve airflow, avoid overhead watering, and remove badly affected leaves.
  • Short lifespan — Many Gaillardia cultivars are short-lived perennials or biennials. Deadheading regularly extends flowering; allow some seed to set for self-seeding replacements.
  • Aphids — Occasionally troublesome on soft shoot tips. Remove by hand or spray with insecticidal soap. Generally a minor problem in open, sunny positions.
  • Aster yellows — Phytoplasma causes distorted flowers and mottled foliage. Remove and destroy affected plants immediately; control leafhoppers, which spread the pathogen.

Companion plants

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' pairs well with Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia nemorosa, 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

Sow seed in spring at 18-21°C on the soil surface; seeds need light to germinate. Alternatively divide established clumps in spring. Deadhead regularly but allow some seed heads to remain for self-seeding. 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 'Sun Devil' is mildly toxic to pets. Gaillardia is not individually listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs or cats, but the genus belongs to Asteraceae and contact with foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals, including pets. Ingestion of large quantities may cause gastrointestinal upset. Treat as mildly toxic out of caution. 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 'Sun Devil' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Gaillardia 'Sun Devil'?

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

How much light does gaillardia 'sun devil' need?

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun is essential — Gaillardia thrives in 6-8+ hours of direct sunlight. It is native to hot, open prairies and tolerates intense heat. Shade produces leggy, disease-prone plants with far fewer flowers.

How often should I water gaillardia 'sun devil'?

Water gaillardia 'sun devil' every 10-14 days once established; drought-tolerant. Extremely drought-tolerant once roots are established. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering or waterlogged soil is a primary cause of failure; reduce watering significantly in autumn. 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 'sun devil' toxic to cats and dogs?

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' is mildly toxic to pets. Gaillardia is not individually listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs or cats, but the genus belongs to Asteraceae and contact with foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals, including pets. Ingestion of large quantities may cause gastrointestinal upset. Treat as mildly toxic out of caution.

What USDA hardiness zone does gaillardia 'sun devil' grow in?

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' 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 'Sun Devil' deep-dive guides

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Gaillardia 'Sun Devil' 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 'Sun Devil' is also known as Sun Devil blanket flower, blanket flower, and Indian blanket.