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Bright gaillardia illuminates any flower garden and pleases the eye. The colorful plant is hardy, blooms for a long time, resistant to drought and frost. From almost 30 types of flowers, you can choose perennial or annual gaillardia, which are propagated by growing from seeds at home.
Description and characteristics
Gaillardia belongs to the Astrov family. Her homeland is the dry prairies of North America. Gaillardia of different varieties are from 20 to 90 cm high. Small compact bushes do not fall apart, they look neat. Growing tall involves the installation of supports and garters. Dense or sprawling bush form dense shoots with branches, they are straight, pubescent, a little harsh to the touch. Lower basal leaves with petioles. Sessile leaves on the stems are elongated, serrated at the edges, pointed, grow alternately.
The structure of the inflorescence
Flexible, thin and long, but strong peduncles bear one inflorescence – a basket. Flowers are simple, double or semi-double, odorless. The marginal flowers are three-toothed, of all kinds of red and yellow shades and their combinations, which evenly change along the radius, forming a picturesque pattern. In the center are tubular flowers of darker, almost brown tones. Semi-double inflorescences are formed from several rows of reed flowers. Terry form densely arranged funnel-shaped tubular flowers. The diameter of the inflorescences is from 6 to 12 cm.
Flowering begins in June and continues until autumn. Gaillardia, which is grown from seeds, creates harmonious ensembles with plantings of other drought-resistant flowers, such as gypsophila or kermek. This flower tolerates well even the harsh Siberian climate.
Species and varieties
They prefer the cultivation of all varieties of annual and perennial gaillardia by sowing seedlings.
Gaillardia is beautiful
Bushes of flowers of different heights depending on the variety. Inflorescences 6-7 cm in size. The edge of the petals is yellow, reddish towards the center. It is the best known annual Gaillardia and is propagated by growing seedlings.
- Lorenz – spherical yellow-crimson inflorescences;
- Red Plume – terracotta scale;
- Yellow Plume – yellow baskets;
- Picta – Terry inflorescences of juicy pomegranate color.
Gaillardia grandiflora spinosa
Perennial tall, up to 1 m, plant with huge 10-12 cm inflorescences of yellow-red or yellow color. It is advisable to propagate by growing through seedlings.
- Mandarin – bright orange-red inflorescences;
- Croftwave Yellow – dazzling yellow;
- Dazzer – the tips of the petals are of a soft sandy hue, the rest of the surface is bright red;
- Wirral flame – ruby center petals and orange edges.
Gaillardia hybrida
The result of crossing Gaillardia beautiful and spinous. Many varieties of tall, with a typical gamut of tones of terry baskets, bloom for two months. A guaranteed shade will be given by the annual planting of seeds for seedlings:
- Arizona Sun – the lowest, 20 cm bush, yellow-red flowers;
- Primavera – compact bush up to 25 cm;
- Kobold – peduncle up to 40 cm, the edges of the petals are red, the central flowers are purple-yellow;
- Golden Goblin – medium height, with a golden gamut;
- Burgundy – 55 cm, dark ruby flower;
- Bremen – up to 70 cm, crimson edges, ruby-colored petals;
- Zone – a golden flower, height up to 70 cm;
- Tokajer – tall plant, 75 cm, bright orange flowers.
There are also picturesque plantings of blunt-toothed gaillardia with light cream flowers and lanceolate with red or yellow inflorescences.
Complex fertilizer for flowers is applied at 25 g per 1 square meter.
Features of reproduction
Gaillardia can spread by self-seeding, but then the characteristic shades of the flower are lost. If you like a certain variety, you need to choose the largest beautiful flower among the planting and mark it for collecting seeds. Growing through seedlings will make it possible to admire a beautiful inflorescence for the next year.
Growing flowers
Annual and perennial gaillardia are propagated by growing from seeds. There are tips on how to plant Gaillardia seeds directly into the ground. But in the conditions of our climate, plants in such plantings develop poorly. It is better to plant flowers with seedlings.
Perennials then propagate by dividing the bush. They cannot be left in one place for a long time, because the decorative effect decreases.
Seed sowing
Growing Gaillardia for seedlings begins in late February or March.
- Planting seeds is carried out in a moist substrate, slightly covered with soil, a film is pulled on top, creating a small greenhouse;
- For seed germination, temperatures above 20 degrees are needed;
- The container is aired every day, the soil is sprayed;
- Seedlings germinate in 12-15 days. The container is placed on a light windowsill or the planting of flowers is illuminated with a phytolamp. The light regime must be observed so that the seedlings are strong;
- With the advent of the second or third full-fledged leaf, the seedlings of gaillardia dive, transplanting into separate cups.
Choice of land and soil
Gaillardia, cheerful solar daisies, prefer a sunlit, warm, spacious place for planting, which is easily blown by the wind, but not a draft. In the shade, the plants are weak, and the color of the flowers is not bright, even if they were propagated by growing through seedlings.
For planting these flowers, light, well-drained soils with neutral or low acidity are suitable. Sandy and sandy – the best option. Growing gaillardia on acidic soils, loams, areas overly fertilized with manure will not be successful.
- In order for heavy soils to be more adapted to the required conditions for flowers, wood ash must be added to them. This useful top dressing will increase the nutritional properties of the soil;
- The second useful component is the addition of coarse sand, which will help rainwater to penetrate deeper layers faster and not stagnate on the surface.
Flower care
Planting gaillardia, which is propagated by growing seeds for seedlings, provides a distance of 20-30 cm between flowers so that the soil can be easily loosened.
The plant is moderately watered, without waterlogging. On hot days without rain, abundant watering of Gaillardia will respond with magnificent flowering. The norm for a single weekly watering of her plantings is five liters per flower. Water must be heated in the sun.
Feeding
Plantings of profusely flowering gaillardia are fed three times a season. Humus is added, and useful organic substances are gradually absorbed by the plant with rains and after watering. They are also fed with mineral fertilizers for flowers. The recommended rate is 25 g per square meter. Top dressing is carried out periodically, when the flowers need them most.
- When forming buds, Gaillardia are fed for the first time;
- Flowering requires one more top dressing;
- Perennial plants are fertilized for the third time after flowering, 20-30 days before frost.
Protection against diseases and pests
The annual Gaillardia, which is bred by growing seedlings from seeds, develops successfully in good conditions for the plant. Shading and waterlogging can be the cause of diseases caused by fungi. Gaillardia are affected by leaf spot, gray mold and powdery mildew. Simple prevention – planting flowers in a place where natural ventilation is provided, as well as moderate watering.
- With signs of damage to flowers, diseased stems and leaves are removed;
- The plant is sprayed with a solution of 3 g of manganese in 10 liters of water;
- For heavily infected plants, Bordeaux mixture and colloidal sulfur are used according to the instructions;
- Sometimes the plant is removed if it cannot be saved.
Against aphids and whiteflies on plantings of gaillardia, insecticides “Aktellik”, “Aktara”, “Decis” and others are used.
A sunny flower that does not require complex care will decorate spacious areas and give them a perky, cheerful look.
