Great Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
- Plant Type
- Forb (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Herbaceous
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
- Moisture
- 🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
- Soil
- Loam, Sand, Silt, Calcareous
- Bloom
- April, May
- Sociability
- S2 – Small groups
Pollinator Value
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 2
- Native Status
- ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
- Closest Direction
- NW
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 9 – Great Plains, 9.2 – Temperate Prairies, 9.2.2 – Lake Manitoba and Lake Agassiz Plain
- Rarity Notes
- Ranked SNA (Not Applicable) in both Ontario and Quebec as an introduced species. Not listed under SARA. Globally secure (G5) with national rank N5 in Canada. Native range is western North America (AB, BC, MB, SK).
- Rarity Ranks
- QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON SNA – Not Applicable
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- A perennial forb of western prairies, plains, and meadows, native from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and south through the northern Great Plains. In eastern Canada it occurs only as an introduction, persisting near gardens, roadsides, and disturbed open ground. Tolerates drought and infertile soils.
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
- Notes
- Valuable as an insectary plant in pollinator gardens, attracting a wide array of native bees (46 species documented) and butterflies. Drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeric guild plantings alongside other prairie forbs.
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Analgesic, Dermatological Aid, Eye Medicine, Gastrointestinal Aid, Kidney Aid, Orthopedic Aid, Veterinary Aid, Cancer Treatment, Tuberculosis Remedy
- Notes
- Extensively used by Blackfoot, Okanagan-Colville, and Thompson peoples. Blackfoot applied root poultice for skin disorders, used plant infusion as eyewash and nosedrops, and root infusion for gastroenteritis. Okanagan-Colville used decoction for kidney problems and poultice for backaches. Thompson peoples took decoction for headache, tuberculosis, and reportedly for cancer treatment. Also used in veterinary medicine for saddle sores and eye injuries in horses.
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →✅ Edible
- Foraging Notes
- Blackfoot peoples used flower heads to absorb soups and broth; flower heads also served as spoons for the sick and invalid. This was a minor food use rather than a staple.
- Toxicity
-
△ Low Toxicity
Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database and USDA rates toxicity as None. However, the plant's fuzzy hairs can cause contact dermatitis (skin irritation) in some susceptible individuals.
Seed Source
- Localeaf
- Akene