Also known as red dome blanketflower this herbaceous perennial is a native of northern Mexico, south-central and southwestern US where it grows on mesas, in grasslands, open forests and disturbed areas. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. Plants grow 1-3′ tall and have hairy oblanceolate to spatulate leaves up to 3″ long growing half way up the stem. In some populations the leaves are entire while in other they are lobed or pinnately divided. From late spring to fall solitary flowerheads appear with reddish purple to brown or yellow disc flowers surrounded by 5-14 yellow ray flowers. The ray flowers are deeply 3-lobbed at the tips and sometimes have purple streaks running through them or are tinged with purple or red. The plants are drought tolerant and a good choice for a xerscape, native plant or wildflower garden. The genus name, Gallaridia, honors Gaillard de Charentonneau, a French magistrate and botany enthusiast . The specific epithet, pinnatifolia, comes from the Latin words pinna meaning feather and folium meaning leaf, referring to the venation pattern of the leaves.
Type:Perennial
Bloom: Flowerheads with reddishpurple to brown or yellow disc flowers surrounded by yellow ray flowers from late spring into fall
Size: 1-3′ H
Light:Full sun
Soil: Average, dry, to moderately moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 4-10
Care: Cut back if flowering fades in summer to encourage rebloom.
Pests and Diseases: None of significance but susceptible to rot in poorly drained soil.
Propagation: Seed
Companion Plants: Yucca “Golden Sword’, hens and chickens, Coreopsis spp.
Karen Meyers