Gaillardia Bring Sunshine like Flowers to Borders
Gaillardia is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family part of Compositae or Asteraceae like the daisy. Gaillardia are native to North and South America. I hope they grow well in Yorkshire as I have just created a new bed from birthday presents brought up from sunnier and warmer Oxford.
As a perennial Gaillardia have a long flowering season are commonly called blanket flower, or if confused with Rudbeckia they can be called cone flower. The daisy-like flowers are produced from early summer to early autumn in shades of orange, red and yellow, add sizzle to the garden and attracting nectar-seeking insects.
Gaillardia Specifics from Gardeners Tips
- Gaillardia do not require deadheading but the plants will look better and be fuller if you do cut the stems back when the flowers start to fade.
- Â Gaillardia is easy to grow but can be a short-lived perennial so divide plants every 2-3 years and encourage reseeding.
- Grow best in full sun.
- Gaillarida forms a slowly spreading mound.
- Gaillarida has lance-shaped gray-green leaves.
- Flowers are 3 – 5 inches across in various shades of yellow and red. Most have petals surrounding a center disk which produces florets. Plants grow 18 inches high by up to 24 inches wide
-  Gaillardia x grandiflora Common Name: Blanket Flower
- Part of the 1,620 Asteracea genera and 23,600 species of herbaceous plants. The 12 species of Gaillardia hybridise so we see a range of colours and forms.
Sowing Gaillardia Seed Tips
- Sow fresh seed six to eight weeks before the last frost in your area.
- Use a moist but not soggy mix including some vermiculite
- Sow three seeds in the center of the pot. Do not cover the seeds.
- Mist over the top of the seeds.
- Try provide a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and eight hours of light per day.
- To avoid washing the seeds from the pot’s center or burying them under the soil apply water slowly when the soil becomes dry.
- After germination remove the weakest seedlings and avoid disturbing the roots of the strongest seedling.
- Fertilize the seedling every fortnight with a 10-10-10 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium water-soluble fertilizer.
Suggested Gaillardia Flower Varieties
- Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’: popular 3-4″ flowers have a red center surrounded by yellow. And Arizona Apricot.
- Gaillardia ‘Burgundy’:Â Wine-red petals with a yellow center disk that ages to burgundy.
- Gaillardia ‘Summerina Orange’: Zingy orange shades from soft red through yellow radiating from a rosy center disk.And Sunseekers Orange.
- Gaillardia ‘Goblin’:Â Large green leaves are veined in maroon. Very hardy.
- Gaillardia ‘Smileys Giggling’ YellowStriking yellow flowers grow true from seed.
Gaillardia with slippers. It goes to show that a cool blue will tone well in the garden with the bright Gaillardia colours.