Easy to Grow Flowering Plant for Beginners: Gaillardia
BY WIKILAWN | JULY 14TH, 2011 | ANNUALS, DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS, FLOWERS, HERBACEOUS, PERENNIALS, ZONE 10A, ZONE 10B, ZONE 3A, ZONE 3B, ZONE 4A, ZONE 4B, ZONE 5A, ZONE 5B, ZONE 6A, ZONE 6B, ZONE 7A, ZONE 7B, ZONE 8A, ZONE 8B, ZONE 9A, ZONE 9BGaillardia is a small genus of annuals and perennials from the family of sunflower and bear very colorful flowers over a long flowering season. Gaillardia is commonly known as Blanket Flower because of its colorful flowers that are reminiscent of colorful blankets of native Red Indians of Americas. They are native to Americas, and make an excellent choice for cut flower.
Gaillardia bears yellow, red, orange and sometimes bicolor flowers that bloom on long stalks. The plant itself grows up to 2 feet in height.
Gaillardia Flowers, Image by Mike Sutton
How to Grow Gaillardia
Gaillardia is quite easy to grow from seeds. It is frost and drought tolerant and well drained soil under bright sunlight. Among the most popular and commercially grown varieties Gaillardia x Grandiflora and Gaillardia Pulchella ‘Lorenziana’ are widely available as hardy plants for containers and flower beds. Gaillardia usually requires moderate watering. These self-seeding plants attract a lot of bees and butterflies to garden. Deadhead your Gaillardia plants to prevent it from becoming invasive.