Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower
Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower
Bright Yellow Daisies With a Fiery Red Eye
Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata 'Spintop Yellow Touch') brings sunshine to the border with large, clear-yellow daisies brushed with a warm red eye at the center. Compact and sturdy, it blooms from early summer to frost and descends from the tough native prairie blanket flower, so it takes heat, drought, and lean soil in stride. A bright, cheerful pollinator magnet for sunny beds in Plymouth, Woodbury, and Lakeville.
Spintop Yellow Touch Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Gaillardia aristata 'Spintop Yellow Touch' |
| Mature Size | 10–14 in. tall, 12–14 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours) |
| Bloom Time | Early summer until frost |
| Flower Color | Bright yellow with a red center eye |
| Soil | Prefers lean, well-drained soil; tolerates clay if not waterlogged |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to zone 3; best with sharp winter drainage |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits |
Landscape Uses
Bright front-of-border color: The clear-yellow daisies light up edges and containers. Mass three to five and deadhead for nonstop bloom.
Pollinator and hot-spot gardens: A bee and butterfly favorite that thrives in reflected heat by driveways and walks. Pair with purple coneflower, catmint, and Russian sage.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall. It establishes fast; sharp drainage maximizes winter survival.
How to Plant Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower
Dig a hole twice the pot's width at the same depth, amending heavy clay with compost or grit. Set the crown level, backfill, water in, and mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the crown. Space 14–16 inches apart.
Watering Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower
First year: Water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Very drought-tolerant — water only during prolonged dry spells.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Hardy to zone 3; naturally short-lived, but sharp drainage and dry winter soil improve its return.
Q: How do I keep it blooming?
Deadhead spent flowers — it blooms from early summer to frost.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer and rabbits leave it alone.
Q: Does it tolerate clay?
Yes, as long as the site drains and isn't soggy in winter.
You May Also Like
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea): A native pollinator partner whose purple contrasts the yellow daisies.
Russian Sage (Perovskia): Airy blue spires for a cool counterpoint.
Catmint (Nepeta): Deer-resistant blue spikes for the front of the border.
How Many Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flowers Do I Need?
Set plants 14 inches apart along an edge. Use this guide for a single-row run:
| Run length | Plants needed (14 in. apart) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 4 |
| 10 ft | 8 |
| 15 ft | 13 |
| 20 ft | 17 |
Mass in groups of 3–5 to light up the front of a sunny bed.
Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: A compact mound of foliage greens up and begins to fill in.
- Summer: Clear-yellow daisies with a fiery red eye open in early summer, busy with bees and butterflies.
- Fall: Bloom carries on to frost with regular deadheading.
- Winter: Cut back after frost; sharp drainage and dry winter soil are key to its return.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Spintop Red Blanket Flower — deep red to ground the bright yellow.
- Spintop Copper Sun Blanket Flower — warm copper that bridges the yellow and red.
- Magnus Coneflower — the purple coneflower the description suggests for contrast.
- Paprika Yarrow — warm-red flat heads for a hot-color border.
Is Spintop Yellow Touch Blanket Flower Right for Your Yard?
It shines in full sun and lean, well-drained soil, including hot reflected-heat spots near pavement, and is left alone by deer and rabbits. It is not a fit in rich, wet ground or soil that stays soggy over winter, where the short-lived crown is prone to rot.