Gaillardia pulchella Foug.
Firewheel, Indian Blanket, Rose-ring Gaillardia
Description
Stem
Stems may be erect or often decumbent toward base, unbranched or more often branched.
Leaves
Leaves are oblong to oblanceolate, 2 to 8 cm long, 0.4 to 3 cm wide, entire to coarsely toothed or pinnately lobed, sessile and often clasping the stem. Sometimes the lowermost leaves taper to broad petioles.
Flowers
Composite heads are on peduncles 5 to 15 cm long and radiate. The receptacle hsa bristles twice as long as achenes. There are 6 to 10 ray florets per head with red rays tipped in yellow, 12 to 20 mm long; disk corollas are reddish purple above, yellow below, 6 to 7 mm long.
Fruit
Seeds are 2 mm long and hirsute (hairy) at the base.
Images
Photo: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
More images of Gaillardia pulchellaLife History
Habitat
Native to the central plains states, Firewheel grows in dry plains and open areas. It is widespread in calcareous and sandy-calcareous prairies, preferring well-drained sand, loam, calcareous soils.
Origin and Distribution
Native range includes North America from Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona south to Mexico and east to Louisiana and Florida. Current distribution: USA (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI), CAN (MB, ON, QC)
Management Recommendations
Mechanical Controls
Seedlings and small plants can be hand-picked or dug out, though this soil disturbance can also create sites for further invasion. Cut branches must be disposed of properly (burned or composted) to ensure they don’t sprout into new plants.
Herbicidal Controls
To remove established plants, stems should be cut off at the base and disposed of properly, and then a general use herbicide such as glyphosate or triclopyr can be applied to the freshly-cut stems to prevent regrowth.
