Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Care, watering, light and tips for Firewheel on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asteraceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–35 °C
About Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella, sometimes known as 'småkokarde', is a vibrant annual or short-lived perennial flower belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is characterized by its striking warm-colored blooms, often with red petals grading into yellow tips and a prominent central disk. This plant is ideal for flower beds, borders, or prairie-style gardens, adding an intense splash of color and attracting pollinators.
Native range
North America, specifically the central and southern United States and northern Mexico.
Care tips
It thrives in full sun exposure for abundant and vigorous flowering. Once established, it is drought-tolerant, so watering should be moderate, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent waterlogging. It prospers in well-drained soils and is not demanding regarding nutrients. A common mistake is overwatering, which can lead to root rot; it's better to err on the side of dry than wet.
How to save a dying Firewheel
- Warning signs
- Wilting or yellowing leaves, no blooms, soft stems.
- First aid
- Check drainage, reduce watering. Prune dead flowers and leaves.
- What kills it
- Overwatering, heavy soil with poor drainage, rotting its roots.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't fully rotten and watering is corrected.