There was one plant that I knew I would purchase the second I saw it ‘Oranges and Lemons’ Gaillardia. I found one last year on a discount rack and rescued it from an unknown fate. ‘Oranges and Lemons’ quickly became one of my favorite plants in the garden. It bloomed forever and had some really attractive seed heads shaped like globes that I left in place since they looked neat. Unfortunately mine didn’t make it through the winter. It was located in a spot on the northern side of our house that gets plenty of sunlight during the summer months but the problem was the wet winter months. During the winter it is rare to see the sun on that side of the house and consequently everything stays wet, soggy, soaked, and completely saturated with water. I suspect that this drought tolerant, sun loving perennial wasn’t too happy over the winter with wet feet and shade.
So this year when I found my gaillardia I quickly snatched up two of them bought them and planted them…on the south side. They were long and leggy and quickly wilted in the hot sun. This was because the stems and leaves had outgrown what the roots in the small pot could sustain adequately. I did what any gardener should do in this circumstance – decapitation! I trimmed the leggy perennials about halfway down the stems and the result was no more wilting. A little pruning will also stimulate more foliar growth to make a bushier plant. Often with plants that have been on the shelf a while you have to find the balance point between roots and foliage. Small root systems just can’t keep a full grown plant growing. Pretty soon the long and leggy gaillardia will become like the bushy and beautiful blanketflower from last summer!
Discover more from Growing The Home Garden
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I really like the coloring on 'Oranges and Lemons' Dave. Right now, I'm trialing a regular gaillardia for the UofGA Dept. of Horticultural, and three other of their plants. They're all doin good so far, except for a begonia, I have them in containers.
Gaillardia are such great perennials! I have some in my yard, but not 'Oranges and Lemons'. I'll have to keep an eye out for that one!
In reference to your post on Coreopsis, I had an Asiatic Lily jump into my cart at Walmart last night- it's a variety called 'Tiny Ghost' (it's not a white but more of a raspberry/reddish/purplish color) and the first thought I had was, "I HAVE to plant this by the Coreopsis!"
While my other Gaillardias have no problems with winters here, my 'Oranges and Lemons' didn't make it through the winter this year either! And I also bought it again for the same reason you did. Just too pretty not to have in the garden!
Very nice, hope these do better on the correct side of your home. I rescued 4 clematis last weekend for a dollar a piece….hope they make it.
TC,
Like I said, I couldn't resist it! I would love to trial some plants how did they get you involved?
Laura,
It's funny how plants can just jump into your cart of their own volition! 😉 I bet it will look great next to that coreopsis!
Kylee,
Even if it returns only as an annual it's worth buying. I think it may have reseeded a baby gaillardia. I'm tending it to see what it grows into.
Darla,
Great bargain! I though I was doing good when I bought a variegated dogwood for $5 yesterday!
You are the best bargain finding gardener. I so want to get this gaillardia established in the garden…It's such an exuberantly happy flower. I think the one I got this spring is named Frenzy! It's beautiful and if it reseeds I will be happy!
I've tried twice to grow a Gaillardia & both times it didn't make it. I was hoping it would & give me some babies—but alas it didn't happen.
So bright and sunny! Love the orange!
I like that one! I hope yours returns bigger and better next year.