Seeds of perennial Gaillardia Arizona Apricot

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Arizona Apricot' is a dwarf variety recently obtained, it illuminates any flower bed with its superb apricot-coloured flowering haloed with yellow sun.

Gaillardia or blanket flower is an Asteraceae growing in large clumps in sunny and dry prairies of North America. It is a perennial very appreciated for its warm colours, its frugality and for its very long flowering from late spring to early autumn. Anglophones affectionately call it the 'blanket flower'. Indeed, its colours resemble the patterns and colours of Persian carpets.

It has a very proud habit and can reach 60 to 70cm (27.6in) in height depending on the varieties and 25cm (9.8in) in width. The numerous stems bear a solitary flower with the appearance of a daisy in warm colours. The central tubular and imperceptibly velvety ligules take on shades of ochre brown, red or amber. The florets, forming the collar, are scarlet at the base and saffron yellow at the tips where they form two or several well-marked lobes. The very irregularly placed ligules give the flower a somewhat disheveled appearance. Depending on the varieties, the proportion of yellow, red, and orange varies and reflects a dominant specific color that you can appreciate from June to September. The foliage is deciduous, lanceolate and pubescent and often takes on a green-gray hue.

Gaillardia x grandiflora is the result of hybridization of the aristata and pulchella Gaillardia, it reveals an exceptional flowering in size. Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Arizona Apricot' offers flowers with a diameter of 11 to 12cm. The outer florets are surrounded by a large bright circle of yellow sun. The amber and apricot heart is a darker shade.

This variety reaches a height of 30cm and will rather be adopted as a ground cover, in a flower bed border or in mixed borders. It is true that for many, aristata rhymes with a natural garden or a Catalan-inspired garden. For others, it is an integral part of a pollinator-friendly garden capable of attracting pollinators and butterflies. It is unanimous that it has the ability to brighten up all parts of the garden with its very colourful manners.

In a meadow, associate Leucanthemum or white Scabiosa with your blanket flowers. Gaillardia likes light, well-drained, and rich soils. It is not afraid of drought or heat, so do not hesitate to plant it in full sun. As it self-sows abundantly, be sure to remove faded flowers to stimulate new blooms and to prevent it from becoming too comfortable. However, even when faded, with a big heart like that, it retains undeniable ornamental interest.