Gaillardia grandiflora Kobold

The 'Kobold' Blanket Flower or Gaillardia x grandiflora is a compact perennial that is abundantly flowering. Its red-orange flowers with yellow borders bloom continuously from June to October, attracting insects and adding vibrant colours to the season. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, the Kobold Blanket Flower has 5 cm (2in) diameter head-shaped flowers. Their centre is composed of tubular florets that form a dense core, with a changing colour: red on the outer edge and turning greenish-yellow towards the centre. They are surrounded by ligules forming bicoloured tongues: red-orange on two-thirds and yellow at the tips. It is these vibrant shades that make it so interesting. They blend well with other summer flowers and bring life to flowerbeds. The heads are carried by downy stems emerging from a clump of lanceolate leaves, quite long (8/10 cm (3/4in)) and slightly greyish-green. Its compact habit (35 cm (14in) tall) is suitable for many combinations in the front of flowerbeds and in pots. Don't hesitate to pick them to create small bouquets; they will brighten your interior.

Like most Blanket Flowers, Kobold requires little maintenance: remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can cut back all the stems in late autumn to strengthen the clump. However, it dislikes high humidity and does not appreciate being in waterlogged soil. Choose a sunny location and even slightly rocky soil.

At the base of Coreopsis, Rudbeckias, and Heleniums, the 'Kobold' Blanket Flower complements the palette of summer and autumn colours. However, it can also provide contrast in multicoloured arrangements. Self-reliant and carefree, it brings life to the garden for an extended period.