Commemorating M. Gaillard de Marentonneau, a French patron of botany (Compositae). Blanket flower. A small genus of annuals and perennials, natives of America, with a protracted flowering interval, helpful for minimize flowers. Considerably untidy in behavior, the lengthy stalks fall about in wind and rain. Gaillardias want some twiggy stakes to assist to maintain the flowers clear and in full view.
Annual species cultivated
- G. amblyodon, 2-3 ft, maroon-red flowers, autumn.
- G. pulchella, 2-3 ft, crimson and yellow flowers, late summer season and autumn, finest handled as a half-hardy annual; vars. brenziana, double flowers in reds and yellows ; picta, bigger flower-heads. `Indian Chief’ with coppery-scarlet flowers is a named cultivar. As well as seedsmen often supply combined annual varieties beneath such names as ‘Alternative Double Combined’, `Particular Combination’, and ‘Double Fireball’.
Perennial species cultivated
All backyard varieties originate from G. aristata (syn. G. grandiflora) and comprise an incredible vary of color from pale primrose-yellow to crimson and daring orange, all flowering from June to October. Named cultivars embrace ‘Burgundy’, 2 ft, wealthy wine pink with a slender yellow frill alongside the outer edges of the petals; ‘Copper Magnificence’, 2 ft, smaller flowers of orange-yellow suffused with brown; ‘Dazzler’, 2 ft, yellow with brown-red central zone; ‘Fireplace-bird’, 2 ft, a vigorous selection with flame-orange flowers; ‘Goblin’, 1 foot, dwarf, yellow with pink zone; `Ipswich Magnificence’, 2-3 ft, massive deep yellow flowers touched with reddish-brown ; `Monarch Pressure’, 2 ft, combined colors; ‘Nana Nieski’, 1-1 1/2 ft, pink and yellow flowers on shorter stems; `The Prince’, 2 ft, very massive flowers as much as 4 inches throughout, deep yellow tinged reddish-brown on the centre; `Tokaj’, 2 ft, wine-red and tangerine; `Wirral Flame’, 2 ft, a robust rising selection, tangerine flowers tipped yellow; `Yellow Queen’, 2 ft, golden-yellow.
Cultivation
A sunny border in a reasonably gentle soil is right and the drainage ought to be good. The annual varieties are raised from seed sown in March in mild warmth and step by step hardened off and planted within the border in late Might to flower for the rest of the season.
Twiggy stakes are wanted for good results, and daring planting repays in backyard ornament. The perennial varieties want drier soils. Autumn and winter damp is their enemy, and if they don’t survive, it’s most likely due to dampness. Alternatively, a sun-baked soil stunts the crops, so a mulch of leaf-mould or decayed manure in summer season is useful. Liquid feeds will be given to good benefit when the crops are coming into flower. Named varieties are finest propagated from root cuttings taken at any time between February and April and put in a sandy field within the body or A greenhouse. These which are taken early and do effectively might flower the primary yr.
Alternatively, basal cuttings taken from August to October, put right into a sandy compost in a chilly body or beneath a cloche will quickly get away. The crops will be divided in both October or March and any roots left within the floor right now will sprout once more.
