Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun'

Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' is a compact heat loving blanket flower known for its intense bicolor petals of red and golden yellow. Its daisy shaped blooms appear continuously through the heat of summer and into fall without deadheading. This cultivar is prized for its tidy mounded habit, long bloom season, and ability to withstand drought, humidity, and poor soil with ease. Its bold coloring and extended flowering period make it especially valuable in pollinator gardens and hot dry planting schemes.

Height & Spread: 8 - 12 in x 10 - 14 in

Bloom Time: Late spring to frost

Light Requirements: Full sun

Soil Preference: Well drained soil; tolerates sandy and rocky conditions

Watering Needs: Low; highly drought tolerant once established

Deer Resistance: Deer resistant

Native Status

Although 'Arizona Sun' is a cultivated variety, it originates from Gaillardia aristata, a species native to parts of North America including the central and western United States.

WILDLIFE & INSECTS

Butterflies

• Attracts Painted Ladies, Pearl Crescents, and Monarchs, which are drawn to its flat nectar rich blooms throughout the summer.

Bees

• Supports native bees including sweat bees, leafcutter bees, and long horned bees along with honeybees due to its abundant pollen and extended bloom time.

Moths

• Visited by day flying moths such as the Hummingbird Clearwing and beneficial night pollinators active during its long bloom season.

Birds

• Goldfinches and other seed eating songbirds feed on the dried seed heads in late summer and fall making this plant valuable beyond its flowering season.

Spacing & Landscape Use

Spacing Recommendations

• Space 10 - 14 in apart to create a dense flowering ground cover or border edge with minimal gaps.

Landscape Placement

• Use in sunny borders, rock gardens, pollinator strips, and xeriscapes where it offers prolonged bloom with minimal care. Effective as a vibrant edging plant or filler in mixed perennial beds.

Companion Plants

• Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Threadleaf Coreopsis) - Compact airy texture and bright yellow blooms pair well with Gaillardia’s bold colors and similar drought tolerance.
• Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Upright purple flower spikes contrast strikingly with Gaillardia’s red and gold daisy blooms.
• Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) - Aromatic silver foliage and early summer bloom time enhance dry garden aesthetics alongside Gaillardia.
• Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' (Beardtongue) - Adds vertical structure, white blooms, and dark foliage that complements and contrasts Gaillardia’s bold flowers.
• Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black Eyed Susan) - Shares bloom season and color palette with Gaillardia while adding reliability and long flowering impact.