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Colouring the periphery

The Gaillardia makes for an excellent cut flower

DAISY LIKE The Gaillardia flower

Gaillardia is a familiar herbaceous border plant (family Compositae) found in open sunny habitats in North America and South America. It grows up to 60 cm. The plant bears colourful daisy-like flowers. The leaves are entire, toothed, lobed and hairy produced in basal rosettes and alternately on the stems and red, orange or yellow daisy-like flowers with purple, brown, red or yellow disc flower-lets are borne on long stems. A leafy plant with brightly coloured flowering period, they are effective in sunny border areas and are also good for cutting.

Gallardia aristata is erect but often spreading perennial with inversely lance-shaped, entire toothed shallowly lobed greyish green leaves. In summer, it produces flowers 10 cm across with yellow rosy flowers, sometimes tinged at the base and reddish orange disc flower-lets.

Gaillarda grandiflora bears lance shaped coarsely toothed grey-green leaves 3 cm long; produces red tipped yellow or entirely red or yellow flower heads with purple disc florets. Propagation is by sowing seeds outdoors. Flowering starts from June. The plant will thrive in any good well-drained soil in a sunny spot.

Transplant the seedlings in March supporting the stems when necessary. Dead heading will prolong the flowering period. Makes an excellent cut flower.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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