Gaillardia aestivalis (Walter) H. Rock var. flavovirens (C. Mohr) Cronquist

Yellow Lance Leaf Blanket Flower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Yellow Lance Leaf Blanket Flower is a native herbaceous annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is known from two counties in south Alabama. Yellow Lance Leaf Blanket Flower occurs in sandhills, in scrub oak woods, in dry Longleaf pine woods, on roadsides, and in disturbed areas. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are up to 3 feet in height and branched in the upper third. The stems are green in color, round in cross section, ribbed, and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, sessile, oblanceolate in outline, with entire or few toothed margins. The leaves are pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are produced singly on long peduncles. The heads consist of only 20-60 yellow disc flowers with 6-12 lemon yellow ray flowers. The rays are 3 lobed at the apex and sterile. The fruit is an achene with a crown of 6-10 lanceolate scales. Yellow Lance Leaf Blanket Flower is easily grown from seed. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and Goldfinches feed on the fruit. It prefers a well-draining, sandy soil in full sun. Yellow Lance Leaf Blanket Flower is very drought tolerant and flowers from late spring until frost. – A. Diamond.

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Native

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