SpinTop Red Blanket Flower

SpinTop Red Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata 'Spintop Red')

SpinTop Red Blanket Flower is a compact, heat-tough perennial that keeps sunny beds colorful for weeks with rich red blooms. It forms a neat mound that fits easily at the front of borders, where it can flower hard without swallowing neighboring plants. This is a strong choice for gardeners who want steady summer color with lower water needs once established. The blooms also draw in pollinators, which helps keep the garden feeling active all season.

Distinctive Features

This gaillardia produces bold, daisy-like flowers in red to red-orange tones, often with warmer yellow highlights toward the tips, held above a dense clump of medium green foliage. The habit is compact and well-branched, giving it a full look that stays presentable in both beds and containers. Bloom typically starts in late spring and continues through summer, and it can push longer with regular grooming. Like many blanket flowers, it performs best in lean, well-drained soil where roots stay dry between waterings.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun for best flowering and tight growth.
• Soil: Well-drained soil, including sandy or gritty sites, and avoid heavy, wet soil.
• Water: Medium moisture to establish, then low to moderate once rooted in, letting soil dry between waterings.
• USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 10 to 14 inches tall and 12 to 14 inches wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant a small drift as a focal point of red summer color at the front of a sunny border.
• Edging: Line paths and bed fronts with a compact mound that stays colorful without getting leggy.
• Pollinator Gardens: Use in groups to support bees and butterflies through the warm-season bloom window.
• Rock Gardens: Tuck into well-drained pockets where bright blooms and a tidy habit shine.
• Containers: Grow in pots for a strong color anchor that holds up well in heat.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and encourage more blooms.
• Drainage: Prioritize sharp drainage, especially in winter, since wet soil can shorten lifespan.
• Watering: Water regularly the first season, then water deeply only during extended drought.
• Feeding: Avoid heavy fertilizing, since leaner soil supports better flowering and sturdier growth.
• Cutback: Trim back lightly after a heavy flush to refresh growth and maintain a compact mound.

Why Choose SpinTop Red Blanket Flower?

• Compact Color Power: Delivers bold red blooms on a tidy plant that fits small spaces.
• Heat and Drought Tolerance: Handles summer stress well once established in well-drained soil.
• Pollinator Value: Attracts bees and butterflies, adding life to the garden.
• Easy Design Fit: Works as a front-border anchor, a container feature, or a repeating color layer.
• Deer Resistance: Often less appealing to deer and rabbits than many flowering perennials.

If you want reliable summer color without a high-maintenance routine, SpinTop Red Blanket Flower is a smart pick. Give it full sun and fast-draining soil, then keep it lightly groomed so blooms keep coming. It looks best repeated in small groups to create a consistent band of color rather than a single spot. In the right site, it becomes a bright, hardworking perennial that keeps the border energized.