The Blanket flower is a wild flower but can be found in gardens as ornamentals. The flora is consumed by wildlife as a food source and it is made into teas for human medicinal consumption. Blanket flower is a warm season perennial with a tap root.

Photo Credits: Terry Wright, USFWS

• Stalks are erect and about eight to 24 inches in height with a showy inflorescence (flowering part of the plant) of many yellow ray flowers and purplish-brown disk florets.
• Leaves are alternate, about six inches long, pinnate lobed or coarsely toothed.
• Stem and leaves have an overall rough or hairy presence to them.
• Belonging to the composite, sunflower family, this daisy-like flower appears in the summer through early fall, a perennial that thrives in heat and sun.
• The blanket flower is used extensively in prairie restoration project.

The Black foot Indians drank a tea made from the root of the Blanket flower. It was used to treat gastroenteritis, nursing mother’s sore nipples, applied powdered root for skin irritation and the liquid as eyewash and nose drops. They also used flowers to waterproof cow hide, cure mumps and prevent balding. The Kiowa’s picked them simply for good luck.

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 1/14/09

Blooming Times On The Refuge

April-June: Sand lily

May-June: Ball cactus, Prickly pear

May-July: Scarlet butterfly weed, Prairie evening primrose, Blanket flower, Low daisy

May-August: Blue flax, Wine cup

June-August: Rocky Mountain beeplant, Wavy leaved thistle, Blazing star

June-September: Prairie coneflower, Hairy golden aster, Evening star, Sunflower, Scarlet globemallow

July-September: Black eyed susan, Purple prairie aster

NORTHERN PRAIRIE WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER