Species › Plants › Firewheel

Firewheel

Gaillardia pulchella

CommonPlant
Illustration of Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)

Firewheel, also called Indian blanket, is a brilliantly colored annual or short-lived perennial with red and yellow ray flowers that blanket roadsides and prairies across the central and southeastern United States. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant and blooms from spring through fall. Native bees, painted ladies, and skippers visit the flowers.

Habitat
Dry prairies, sandy soils, and roadsides of the south-central and southern US
Diet
Nectar and pollen for native bees, skippers, and painted lady butterflies
How common
Common

Best time to see a Firewheel

The best time to see a Firewheel is April–June, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 58,602 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Firewheel? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Firewheel sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Firewheel?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More plants

Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
Flame Azalea
Flame Azalea
Rhododendron calendulaceum
Flat-top White Aster
Flat-top White Aster
Doellingeria umbellata
Flatface Calicoflower
Flatface Calicoflower
Downingia pulchella
Floating Pondweed
Floating Pondweed
Potamogeton natans
Florida Thatch Palm
Florida Thatch Palm
Thrinax radiata
Flowering Dogwood
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Flowering Raspberry
Flowering Raspberry
Rubus odoratus