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Gaillardias ......who grows 'em?

VerdunVerdun Posts: 23,348

I have never grown gaillardias.  who does? Poor versions of heleniums? Or are they valued as great perennials?

 

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  • I do. I grew a free pack of seeds three years ago and they have been brilliant. They are a bit floppy so I've had to support them. They have flowered constantly since June and respond well to deadheading. I have not fed them yet but the bed gets mulched in the winter.

    I have not got heleniums. I wanted some but they need moist ground and I have desert like conditions - hot, dry & chalky soil.  Hope that all helps!

  • ElusiveElusive Posts: 992

    I have Gaillardia Arizona Sun. Short and Bushy and full of flower from July until Frosts image

    image

     

  • I grew some Arizona Sun Gaillardia this year and I already had some plants from one of those bumper perennials packs you can buy for next to nothing but they don't perform well in my garden.

    I wonder if you need to feed them and tend them a lot? I tend to regard them as alternatives to Rudbeckia but whereas Rudbeckia from seed this year are large and floriferous the Gaillardia, whilst not being sickly or dying - they just won't grow.

    The slugs and snails don't seem to bother them though I have to say.

    Wearside, England.
  • ElusiveElusive Posts: 992

    They grow well in my improved Clay soil image

    The wet winter didnt seem to bother them either

  • Mark 499Mark 499 Posts: 380

    I have grown them from seed, the taller types are floppy so I only grow the dwarf types now, they bloom for ages if you keep deadheading.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,013

    I've grown them, but they often don't survive the winter. They are much shorter than heleniums and the flowering period is a lot longer. My heleniums are doing well but this year I only have one gaillardia left from the 12 I bought as small plants 3 years ago.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • I grow gaillardias and coreopsis together. I find the Gs don't often survive the winter altho the Cs always do. i remember others saying they lost theirs in winter too, on an earlier discussion. I buy them as they are good but only expect 1 season.

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    I've got a few that flower well, and have made it through the last two winters (although they were mild ones) - they are a bit more gaudy than the heleniums they are with, but go well together.  Agree about them flopping though.

    can't grow coreopsis - something eats them - think it the meecesimage

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    Heres a pic

    image

     

  • A short variety, can't think of the name, would look good in front of taller heleniums, Verd.

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