Arizona Sun Gaillardia Seeds

Arizona Sun (Gaillardia × grandiflora) is one of the brightest and longest-blooming blanket flowers available, producing a spectacular display of fiery scarlet-red blooms boldly tipped with golden-yellow from late spring until frost. Bred as part of the award-winning Arizona Series, this compact perennial combines exceptional flower power with outstanding heat and drought tolerance, making it one of the finest performers for sunny gardens. Its brilliant sunset colors seem to glow against the silver-green foliage, bringing months of cheerful color even during the hottest days of summer.

Compact, well-branched plants grow into tidy mounds just 10 to 12 inches tall while producing dozens of large daisy-like flowers throughout the growing season. Unlike many taller blanket flowers, Arizona Sun rarely requires staking and maintains its attractive form in borders, containers, and mass plantings. Its nonstop blooms and rugged durability have earned numerous garden awards and made it a favorite among professional landscapers and home gardeners alike.

Garden Uses

Arizona Sun is ideal for perennial borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, rock gardens, pollinator plantings, xeriscapes, edging, and patio containers. Its naturally compact habit makes it especially valuable in smaller gardens, raised beds, window boxes, and mixed planters where continuous color is desired.

The vivid red and yellow blooms combine beautifully with blue salvias, lavender, catmint, purple coneflowers, coreopsis, yarrow, ornamental grasses, and white flowering perennials. The sturdy stems also produce excellent cut flowers that remain colorful in bouquets for many days.

Growing Information

Arizona Sun thrives in full sun and performs best in well-drained soil. Sandy, gravelly, rocky, and average garden soils all produce excellent results, while poorly drained or consistently wet soils should be avoided. Mature plants typically reach 10 to 12 inches in height with a spread of 12 to 15 inches.

Seeds may be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the final spring frost or sown directly outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Press seeds gently into the soil without covering deeply, as light aids germination. Maintain temperatures around 70°F. Germination usually occurs within 10 to 20 days.

Once established, Arizona Sun requires very little supplemental watering and thrives during prolonged periods of heat and drought. Deadheading encourages continuous flowering throughout the season, although allowing a few blooms to mature provides seeds for visiting birds. Divide mature clumps every few years to maintain peak vigor.