Gaillardia aristata

Question

Two years ago landscapers put in perennial garden with Gaillardia Goblin. They have been slow to start–almost looking dead by end of fall–plants laying on ground with a weak flower. This year was a wetter spring and one of the plants looks quite good but the other has a massive amount of green leafy plants spreading around the ground but no flowers. The leaf seems to resemble the outer leaves near the ground. The plant with the flower looks like a “regular plant” then with these same leafy plants coming up all around it also. Do these “go wild” and not flower–maybe just a weed coming where a plant used to be?

Answer 1

Deadheading spent blooms often helps encourage additional flowering throughout the season. That said, there could be an issue with the nitrogen content in the soil (a soil test would help confirm this). Too much nitrogen content will produce more foliage growth and little to no flowering. Adding a high phosphorus fertilizer, or bone meal, to the soil will normally offset this and help induce blooming. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/blanket-flower/growing-blanket-flowers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm