There was plenty of fanfare when gaillardia "Fanfare" was introduced five or six years ago.
With its yellow-orange and red tubular ray florets, this gaillardia was unusual looking and innovative in a genus of perennials and annuals that have been stalwart garden performers, if not particularly exciting.
The earlier "Oranges & Lemons" gaillardia and "Fanfare" drew applause from many gardeners, encouraging breeders to develop more new cultivars for the marketplace. "Mesa Yellow" debuted last year and won distinction from All America Selections, and this year brings "Mesa Bright Bicolor." Other new varieties include AAS award-winning "Arizona Apricot" and "Punch Bowl."
Gaillardia can be either annuals or perennials. Drought-tolerant, the genus belongs to the North American native Asteraceae family, the largest "family" of flowering plants that includes sunflowers, asters, daisies, marigolds, cosmos, dahlias, chrysanthemums, zinnias, as well as ragweed, sagebrush and that omnipresent spring weed, dandelion.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Courier
