Blanket Flower: A Rare Wildlife Magnet

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) is not just a beautiful plant for the garden. Still, it has an ecological purpose in attracting species of insects and animals that aren't commonplace worldwide. It is a sun-baked perennial with flaming red and yellow flowers, which attracted animals that wouldn't have made it to the other side of the yard. Its nectar-producing flowers, bloom longevity, and versatility make it a benefactor for pollinators and wild animals (some rare or declining).

Blanket Flower Attracts Rare Butterflies and Moths

Blanket Flowers attract many butterflies, some becoming scarce because of habitat loss and climate change. Such a visitor is the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), the most oversized butterfly in North America. The magnificent insect scours Gaillardia for nectar, which it depends on for summer and fall blooms. An additional species to mention is the Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia), a butterfly being pushed out of existence due to prairie habitat destruction. The colorful blooms of the Blanket Flower are the primary nectar source these butterflies need as they migrate or establish breeding populations.

The Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe), which mimics a hummingbird with its agile wing swings, also loves the Gaillardia. The moth is a little rarer in the cities but is a typical visitor to the gardens of rural communities on Blanket Flowers. Its larval host plants are disappearing, too, and nectar plants such as Gaillardia are essential for its existence.

Blanket Flower Attracts Native Bees and Rare Pollinators

Blanket Flowers are a nexus for wild bees, including endangered species. Blue Calamintha Bee (Osmia calaminthae), an extremely endangered bee that only inhabits Florida, sometimes appears in Gaillardia. Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis), another endangered species, seeks Blanket Flowers for pollen, too. There have been nearly 90 percent fewer of this bee in the past decades, and gardens full of nectar-bearing flowers such as Blanket Flowers offer vital forage to eke out an existence.

Solitary bees like the Leafcutter Bee (Megachile spp.) also frequent Gaillardia. Leafcutter bees are less visible than honeybees but are essential pollinators. They multiply the productivity of the entire garden through interbreeding. Leafcutter bees make nesting sites out of the delicate petals of Gaillardia and, in doing so, pollinate the flower.

Blanket Flower Lures Birds and Small Mammals

Blanket Flowers are most common with pollinators, but their seed heads attract birds, especially some rare finches. Lesser Goldfinches (Spinus psaltria) and Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) like to munch on the seed heads in late summer and fall. These birds are accustomed to eating seeds from plants native to their area, and Blanket Flowers, with their abundance of seeds, are a reliable source.

The seeds aren't just valuable for finches and small mammals such as Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and White-footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus). They help spread seeds and, in doing so, have spread Gaillardia in the wild. This mutual relationship helps to keep native species in grasslands and meadows balanced.

Hoverflies and Beneficial Insects

Hoverflies - some with the body shape of wasps or bees - feast on Blanket Flowers nectar. These insects are double-duty - the adults pollinate flowers, and the larvae feed on aphids in the garden. The rarer of these, the Golden-tailed Hoverfly (Xylota sylvarum), which breeds in temperate habitats, occasionally stops by Gaillardia. They also help the garden's ecology by naturally suppressing pests.

Blanket Flower Is A Magnet For Hummingbirds and Uncommon Birds

Blanket Flowers also draw Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) to them, which are widely seen across the eastern US but endangered. Hummingbirds use the tubular flowers of Gaillardia for nectar during migration. Intriguingly, rarer birds like the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) have been found in gardens populated by Blanket Flowers. These brightly colored birds might come for the bugs attracted to the blooms, and that ripple effect ripples through the local food web.

Rare Beetles and Flower Beetles

Special beetles like the Margined Leatherwing (Chauliognathus marginatus) visit Gaillardia blooms. Flower beetles are little-known yet often important pollinators. This beetle isn't endangered, but it is undergoing habitat loss, and flowers such as Blanket Flower are its only hope.

Even Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae), some of them threatened by nectar from Blanket Flowers. Their larvae break down deadwood and are essential for nutrient cycling.

The Role of Blanket Flower

In planting Blanket Flowers, backyards unwittingly feed the tenuous ecosystem of native species. Because Gaillardias can be grown in mediocre soil, with resistance to drought, and in large numbers, they provide a treasure trove for rare pollinators and wild creatures. When people landscape with Blanket Flowers, they're helping pollinator conservation and creating habitat for endangered species.

Blanket Flowers have made more than just looks. They are tolerant perennials that provide refuge for animals slowly disappearing from the wild and help unify cities and nature. With pollinators shrinking at an increasing rate, species such as Gaillardia become more important than ever, so thoughtful gardening that prioritizes biodiversity is indispensable.