The vibrant perennial gaillardia can become the centerpiece of any garden. This sunny flower boasts large buds in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Gardeners love gaillardia for its easygoing nature and long, abundant blooms.
Biological characteristics of the plant
Gaillardia is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. In the wild, the flower grows in the undergrowth of North and Central America. Some varieties of gaillardia delight with their beauty for only one season. However, most gaillardias are perennials that overwinter outdoors. The flower owes its unusual name to the Frenchman Gaillard de Charenton, a renowned botanist.
This perennial is a heavily branched, spreading shrub, up to 70 centimeters tall (depending on the species and variety). Numerous curved, hairy stems emerge from the basal leaves, covered with green, elongated-oval foliage. At the ends of the long stems, inflorescences form, ranging from 4 to 10 centimeters in diameter, simple or double, variegated in yellow, brown, and orange. One thing remains constant: the flower margin is always yellow. The leaflets, like tongues, are arranged in 2-3 rows on the semi-double inflorescences. In double inflorescences, the strongly fused central petals emerge from a funnel-shaped core. The fruit is a seed basket.
The plant blooms from mid-July until frost. The buds don't fall off even with light autumn frosts. After the flowers have finished blooming, seed pods appear in their place. Once the inflorescences fade, the decorative value of the flower bushes diminishes sharply.
Thanks to its decorative qualities, gaillardia looks great in the garden, on the terrace, or in a balcony pot. Designers use it in borders, flowerbeds, mixed borders, flower beds, rock gardens, and for cut flowers.
Advantages of culture:
- long flowering;
- ease of care;
- different colors of flowers;
- a wide variety of shapes and textures of inflorescences;
- winter hardiness;
- retains its decorative appearance for several years;
- the ability to reproduce quickly.
Types of perennial gaillardia
There are approximately 30 species of perennial gaillardia. Only two are widely used in home gardening, characterized by their more vibrant and longer blooms.
Hybrid
A hybrid variety of this flower was created by crossing wild annuals and cultivated gaillardia. All cultivars of this species are very similar. The bushes grow to approximately 70-80 centimeters, feature lanceolate, hairy leaves, and yellow and red inflorescences with double or semi-double flower heads.
In warm climates, hybrids bloom much earlier than typical ones—as early as mid-June. The end of bloom occurs in the last days of summer.
The most popular hybrid varieties:
| variety | brief description |
| Zone | A medium-sized plant (60-65 centimeters) with long, flexible, greenish shoots and voluminous flowers, sometimes reaching 10 centimeters in diameter. The inflorescences are dark yellow and golden in color. |
| Cobalt | A spreading, low-growing shrub, 40 centimeters tall. The stems are branched. The inflorescences are large. The petals are yellow in the center and red at the edges. |
| Arizona | A small bush, barely reaching 20 centimeters in height, it produces yellow and orange flowers. This variety is distinguished by its very long flowering period, with buds opening as early as early June. |
| Primavera | A 25-centimeter plant with a lush crown of flowers (a single rosette produces up to eight flower stalks). The flowers are large, reaching 12 centimeters in diameter, and are colored in golden tones. |
| Burgundy | The plant grows from 50 to 60 centimeters tall. The inflorescences are a rich burgundy color with yellow spots. |
| Tokajer | The shoots of this perennial, tall plant are adorned with bright orange, medium-sized flowers. |
| Golden Gobin | This low, vigorous bush has solid-colored flower heads and blooms profusely all summer. |
Aristate
Another name for this species is "large-flowered." It has been cultivated since 1812. This perennial grows to 75 centimeters tall with long, upright shoots that can split apart during flowering, which detracts from the ornamental appearance of the gaillardia. Therefore, the bushes need to be tied to a support structure. The foliage is the same shape and color as other varieties of this plant. It can be oval, elongated, or lanceolate. The leaf margin is often entire, less commonly serrated. The surface is heavily pubescent. The basal leaves are petiolate, while the stem leaves are sessile. A distinctive feature of the aristate variety is its large, vibrant inflorescences, which contrast with the green foliage with bright, sunny colors. Individual flowers reach 12-14 centimeters in diameter.
The most common varieties:
| variety | brief description |
| Dazzler | The inflorescences are dark red, burgundy in color. The tips of the petals are yellow. |
| Wirral Flame | The inflorescences have a ligulate structure. The petals are bicolored: yellowish at the edges, and a bright red center. |
| Mandarin | A spreading bush with red-orange inflorescences. The petals have distinct serrations at the ends. They are arranged in 3-4 rows. |
| Croftway Yellow | A variety whose inflorescences are completely painted in one color – yellow. |
Growing Gaillardia
Gaillardia thrives in sunny locations with dry, well-drained, light, non-acidic, humus-rich soil. For healthy growth and abundant blooms, gaillardia also requires plenty of light and water.
In the shade, gaillardia may not bloom at all.
Gaillardia is propagated by division and seed. The former method is suitable for older plants, as the plant grows very slowly. Division is done in May or autumn, once the last buds have bloomed and seed pods remain in their place.
For seed propagation, sow the seeds in May. Seedlings appear in 10-11 days. They are transplanted into nurseries or cold frames as soon as the shoots have 2-3 leaves. In late summer or early September, the young seedlings are transplanted to their permanent location in the flowerbed, spaced 20 centimeters apart. To make the bushes appear fuller, plant 2-3 seedlings per hole. Generously fertilize the soil at planting time. Add humus, ash, compost, and a portion of minerals to the hole. Seed plants bloom only in their second year. In one location, the flower grows well for up to 4-5 years, after which it must be divided and replanted.
When propagated by seed, the color of future flowers may differ significantly from those grown on the mother plant.
Care
Gaillardia doesn't require much care. All this perennial needs is water, occasional fertilizing, mandatory staking (for tall varieties), and reliable winter protection.
Many varieties grow to impressive sizes for a flowering plant. At 70-80 cm tall, the shoots often fail to support their weight and fall apart, ruining the beauty of the flowerbed. Wooden stakes or stems from other, more robust plants (such as irises) are used as supports.
Just before flowering, it's necessary to stimulate the plant to produce abundant inflorescences. The best option is to use mineral fertilizers high in potassium. During and after the flowering period, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are added to the soil. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied immediately after planting young plants and during their growth. Humus, compost, and grass infusions are particularly effective for this purpose. After this period, stop applying fertilizers containing this element.
Top dressing with fresh manure is not allowed!
Gaillardia blooms magnificently all summer long without any additional fertilizing. But if you want to enjoy the beauty of your front garden longer, you can try a trick: promptly remove faded buds, which will prompt new flower buds to form in their place.
One of the perennial's main advantages is its good winter hardiness. There's no need to dig up the flowers or repot them for the winter. The plants will overwinter well directly in the open ground. However, during cold, snow-poor winters, experts still recommend covering the flowerbed with leaves or spruce branches to protect the rhizomes from freezing. In the fall, before the onset of sustained frost, all branches are cut back completely, leaving 5-7 cm stumps, and only then covered with a "blanket."
Diseases and pests
Gaillardia is most often affected by fungal diseases, particularly rot, powdery mildew, and spotting. All infections occur as a result of improper watering. Gaillardia requires high soil moisture but does not tolerate extreme humidity. Flowers should be watered frequently but moderately, creating a semi-humid environment but never stagnant water.
At the first signs of wilting, immediate action is necessary to save the flowerbed: remove all affected leaves and treat the bushes with a fungicide (e.g., Skor or Topaz). If a specialized solution is not available, ordinary potassium permanganate diluted with water will do. Watering should be sharply reduced or stopped completely for several days. After 4-5 days, the soil can be moistened, but the above-ground portion of the plant should remain dry.
Aphids are considered a dangerous pest for the crop. Whiteflies often attack plantings. Regular spraying with insecticides such as Actellic and Decis, as well as traditional decoctions of wormwood, garlic, and onion peels, will help protect flowers from insects.
Seed collection
Seeds are collected from faded inflorescences. Faded buds are removed from the bush and left for 2-3 weeks to dry thoroughly. The seeds are stored in a paper envelope or box until spring. However, when sowing your own seeds, remember that the genetics of the resulting plants will be radically different from the original cultivar.
If you don't remove old inflorescences from the bush, the seeds will be dispersed by the wind and will germinate without problems the following year. The dense seedlings can be thinned out or transplanted to different areas of the garden.
To have your own little sun in your garden, you don't have to break the laws of physics. Simply plant colorful gaillardias, which will "light up" the surrounding area with their vibrant, variegated blooms and decorate the property for years to come.