Gaillardias: 5 ideas for pairing them

In a sunny border

Gaillardes are perfect for creating a summer display with a rustic feel, positioned in full sun and well-drained soil. To accompany them, simply choose other plants with vibrant, low-maintenance flowering that, like them, thrive in full sun. A few clumps of Gaillardes are enough to brighten up a composition and provide a strong chromatic presence. Use the tallest varieties, such as ‘Amber Wheels’ and ‘Maxima Aurea’, which form clumps of 70-75 cm in all directions. Position your gaillardes near perennials that grow on their own, becoming more opulent and floriferous each year, just like them.

They pair well with some echinaceas (‘Harvest Moon’, ‘Funky Yellow’, for example) with warm, vibrant blooms, along with heleniums in warm colours, achilleas, and summer and autumn asters. Soften their somewhat vigorous accents with flowers that have less defined, rounder, and blurrier edges, such as those of roses or oriental poppies, in matching colours. Sprinkle the whole display with Lupins (‘West Country Masterpiece’) and daisies (‘Engelina’, ‘Princesse d’argent’) to add verticality and height to this display.

Lighten this natural scene with a few grasses with a soft habit, such as Pennisetums and Stipas. They also help to calm the fiery mix of somewhat explosive hues.

Gaillarde ‘Amber Wheel’, Aster nova angliae ‘Violetta’, Pennisetums villosum, Echinacea ‘Harvest Moon’ and lupins

To punctuate a mixed border

In an emblematic composition of English gardens where perennials and annuals joyfully coexist and bloom profusely, gaillardes will easily find their place. They create very cheerful splashes of colour. So, focus on the warmth and vibrancy of their hues to add character to a sunny mixed border.

To create a beautiful naturalistic association, favour varieties that are not too tall, such as ‘Tokayer’ or ‘Mesa Yellow’. They form small, bushy, and very floriferous plants about 50 cm tall. Their unceasing flowering will echo that of the wild daisy flowers from Leucanthemums and Coreopsis.

Also accompany them with annual Dahlias or Rudbeckias. Their blooms will be complemented by those of Crocosmias ‘Sunglow’, blue or red salvias, Cosmos, and Heleniums like ‘Short’n Sassy’, which will accompany them throughout the summer and into early autumn.

Complete with heucheras like ‘Obsidian’, for example, with almost black foliage that will greatly enhance these warm tones.

Gaillarde ‘Mesa Yellow’, Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’, Crocosmia ‘Sunglow’, Heleniums

In an undemanding and floriferous rockery

Gaillardes give a simple rockery the appearance of Indian tapestries! Essentially native to the dry prairies of North America, they fear neither drought nor heat, and will thrive in poor, even stony, soil. With their compact habit, dwarf varieties such as ‘Arizona Red’, ‘Kobold’ (or ‘Goblin’), and ‘Lutin’ are great bargains for flowering from May-June to October, perfect for dry, well-drained slopes or a rockery. Surround them with equally undemanding and floriferous plants in the same bright, fruity colours, such as Helianthemums, small Cosmos Sulphureus (‘Mandarin’), and Geums ‘Totally Tangerine’.

The Erigeron karvinskianus, Lavenders, santolines, cistus, and nepeta are also lovely low plants that enjoy the same conditions and tolerate summer drought. With its lovely golden-yellow flowering, Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ will add a beautiful touch of light and will perfectly complement this array of warm tones.

Stipa pennata and Stipa tenuifolia also enjoy these spartan conditions and will bring softness and a wilder touch.

Gaillarde aristata ‘Arizona Red’, Cosmos sulphureus ‘Cosmic Orange’, lavender, erigeron karvinskianus, geums ‘Totally Tangerine’, cistus, and Stipa tenuissima

In a spicy scene

Here are some chromatic combinations to reserve for a warm, sunny spot in the garden! All summer long, a clever mix of perennials and annuals will set ablaze a bed of Catalan inspiration.

Choose gaillardes in spicy colours, such as ‘Royale’, ‘Fanfare Blaze’, or ‘Burgunder’; there are many to choose from. Create a bed with fiery tones, featuring some tall canna Red King Humbert’, Dahlia ‘Karma Choc’, coppery Heleniums like Helenium ‘Flammenspiel’ or ‘Kupferswerg’, fiery Echinaceas like Colourburst Orange’, ‘Tomato Soup’, and Tritomas.

Perennial chrysanthemums and Achilleas ‘Feuerland’ will accompany their blooms in style until the gates of autumn.

Meanwhile, some clumps of Stipas pennata with their long feathery spikes that undulate in the wind will help balance and nuance this fiery tableau.

A vibrant gaillarde accompanied by Achilleas ‘Feuerland’, Dahlias ‘Karma Choc’, Echinaceas ‘Tomato Soup’, Heleniums ‘Flammenspiel’, and Stipas pennata

Warm/cool contrast!

Warm colours like orange or yellow have the advantage of warming up borders. It is sometimes necessary to temper them with a cool shade, such as blue or purple, their complementary colour.

You can thus incorporate a Gaillardia ‘Mesa Yellow’ or ‘Fanfare Blaze’ alongside other flowers in similar tones, Helenium hoopesi, Cactus Dahlia ‘Ludwig Helfert’, gladioli, Crocosmia ‘George Davison’, Echinacea ‘Tangerine Dream’.

Plant alongside them Echinops and Eryngiums in steel blue, which will add more relief to the overall display and provide the necessary complementary note. Accent with Salvias nemorosa ‘Mainacht’, and ‘Caradonna’, Agastaches ‘Blue Boa’, blue asters, and Nepeta kubanica.

Gaillardia ‘Fanfare Blaze’, Crocosmia ‘George Davison’, Eryngium, Salvia nemorosa, Cactus Dahlia ‘Ludwig Helfert’