This seems to be one of the most prolific and colorful wildflowers in the Inland Northwest region. It is widely domesticated so it is common in seed stores and gardens. According to the US Forest Service;
Blanketflower is a cool season, slender, short-lived
perennial, with fuzzy light green leaves. Its flowers are typically
bright red with yellow tips. Blanketflower is native to most of the
western states, the upper Great Plains, around the Great Lakes, and in
portions of New England...The genus Gaillardia was dedicated in 1788 in honor of the early French botanist Gaillard de Charentonneau. Aristata means "bearing bristles" in botanical Latin, in reference to the rough hairy leaves and stems.
This flower was one of 7 species of wildflower collected by Merriweather Lewis and his group in 1806 as they crossed the Continental Divide. The flower is also known as Brown-Eyed Susan. We have found several varieties with different coloring and petal configurations.
"It looks like a play toy steering wheel." Lily
"It looks like lots of little chickens putting their tail up in a circle." Noel
