A Guide to Growing the Vibrant Gaillardia Arizona Sun Blanket Flower

The Gaillardia arizona sun blanket flower, also known by its botanical name Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Arizona Sun’, is a gorgeous flowering perennial that brings vibrant color and texture to gardens This blanket flower variety has won multiple awards for its outstanding performance, abundant blooms, and hardy nature

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about successfully growing Gaillardia arizona sun, including tips for planting, ideal growing conditions, and how to care for this eye-catching perennial.

An Overview of Gaillardia Arizona Sun

Gaillardia arizona sun is a cultivar of the blanket flower species that originates from Arizona, It’s known for producing showy flowers up to 3 inches wide that feature mahogany-red petals tipped with bright golden-yellow edges Each flower has a red center that provides beautiful contrast,

This blanket flower variety was bred to be cold hardy and thrives in zones 3-9. It’s also heat and drought tolerant once established. The compact, mound-forming plants reach about 10-12 inches tall and wide at maturity.

Gaillardia arizona sun is admired for its vigorous blooming from early summer through fall. The abundant flowers attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. With deadheading, plants will flower nonstop for months.

This blanket flower variety won the All-America Selections award in 2005 for its outstanding performance in gardens across North America.

Planting Gaillardia Arizona Sun in the Garden

When planting Gaillardia arizona sun, choose a site with full sun exposure. These plants thrive with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Select a location with fertile, well-draining soil.

Space Gaillardia arizona sun plants about 12 inches apart in the garden. Give them room to spread out and maximize flowering. Amend the soil with compost or organic matter to improve drainage if needed.

Planting in spring allows root systems to establish before heat arrives. You can also plant in fall in zones 7-9 for winter flowering. Place these perennials near sidewalks, patios, or along borders where their vibrant flowers can be admired up close.

Caring for Gaillardia Arizona Sun Blanket Flowers

Gaillardia arizona sun blanket flowers are quite low maintenance once established but do require attention to certain care needs:

• Watering: Drought tolerant but flowers best with regular water, about 1-2 inches per week. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.

• Soil: Prefers poor to average garden soil that drains well. Avoid frequent fertilizing which causes foliage growth over flowers.

• Sun: Full sun exposure required for abundant blooming. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day.

• Fertilizer: Apply a balanced flower fertilizer in spring and again halfway through summer if needed.

• Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Shear plants by 1/3 after main flowering in midsummer to stimulate new growth.

• Hardiness: Extremely winter hardy, tolerates frigid temps as low as -40F when mulched.

• Problems: Heat and drought tolerant but may struggle in humid climates. Avoid overwatering.

Tips for Getting the Most Flowers

Here are some useful tips to maximize flowering from Gaillardia arizona sun in your garden:

• Plant in full sun in infertile, fast-draining soil. Too much fertility causes lanky growth rather than flowers.

• Allow plants to establish deep roots the first season before blooming. Avoid disturbing the root zone once planted.

• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to promote continuous flowering. Shear plants midsummer to encourage a second flush of blooms.

• Provide supplemental water during drought and extreme heat to keep plants flowering strong.

• Avoid excess fertilizer which causes foliar growth instead of blooms. Gaillardia thrives in lean soil.

• Mulch around plants in winter to protect the roots and crown. Remove in spring as new growth appears.

• Divide large clumps every 2-3 years in early spring to rejuvenate plants. This prevents them from dying out in centers.

Using Gaillardia Arizona Sun in the Landscape

Gaillardia arizona sun blanket flowers add striking color and texture to both gardens and landscapes. Here are some ideal uses for these rugged perennials:

• Plant in perennial borders, cutting gardens, and cottage gardens. The bold colors contrast beautifully with other flowering plants.

• Use mass plantings of Gaillardia arizona sun along pathways, borders, and slopes for vivid color impact.

• Allow plants to weave through rocky areas, gravel gardens, and xeriscapes. They thrive in lean, fast-draining soil.

• Feature in containers and planters. Gaillardia arizona sun flowers abundantly in pots and window boxes. Provide well-draining soil.

• Plant Gaillardia near entries, patios, and deck areas where their color can be viewed up close.

• Attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial pollinators to your landscape by including this nectar-rich blanket flower.

• Use in pollinator and habitat gardens to provide food sources for wildlife.

Captivating Color All Season Long

Gaillardia arizona sun blanket flower delivers vivid flower color from early summer until frost. The bold red and yellow blooms pop against gray-green fine foliage. As a rugged, drought-tolerant perennial, it shines in sunny dry gardens where other plants struggle. This award-winning blanket flower variety reliably flowers its heart out with minimal care required. For gardens that burst with vibrant, low-maintenance color, Gaillardia arizona sun is an exceptional choice.