gaillardia

noun

gail·​lar·​dia gə-ˈlär-d(ē-)ə How to pronounce gaillardia (audio)
: any of a genus (Gaillardia) of American composite herbs with showy flower heads

called also blanketflower

Examples of gaillardia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sea oats flutter and blanket flowers (also called gaillardias) bloom yellow and red on the dunes. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2023 This series will conclude on Thursday, Sept. 5, with a workshop featuring dahlias, zinnias, anemones, heuchera, black eyed Susan and gaillardia. courant.com, 21 Aug. 2019 Medium-height plants may include calendulas, peonies, gladiolus, lilies, standing cypress, echinacea, daisies, gaillardia, Swiss chard, zinnias or any annual or perennial that loves full sun exposure. Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 21 Mar. 2018 The grassy path along the east side of the house is lined with tall goldenrod spikes, dune sunflower, spotted bee-balm, scorpion’s tail, gaillardia, yellowtop and other colorful wildflowers. Sun-Sentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2017 The daisies were beheaded, the gaillardia decimated. Elizabeth C. Leon, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2017 A: Although there are a number of possibilities, one of my favorites is the gaillardia, also called blanket flower. Ottillia "toots" Bier, Orange County Register, 16 June 2017 Although there are a number of possibilities, one of my favorites is the gaillardia, also called blanket flower. Ottillia "toots" Bier, Orange County Register, 16 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gaillardia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from René Gaillard de Charentonneau, 18th-century French magistrate and botanical amateur + -ia -ia entry 1

Note: Named by the French botanist Auguste Denis Fougeroux de Bondaroy (1732-89) in "Extrait dʼun mémoire … contenant la description dʼun nouveau genre de plante," Observations sur la physique, sur lʼhistoire naturelle et sur les arts, tome 29 (juillet, 1786), pp. 53-56. Fougeroux initially designated the plant Gaillarda, correcting it to Gaillardia in later publications.

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gaillardia was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near gaillardia

Cite this Entry

“Gaillardia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaillardia. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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