Flowers on fire
Firewheel or Indian blanket is familiar to many who have seen its cheerful, yellow and red-orange flowers dotting beach dunes. Gaillardia (gay-LAR-dee-uh), a native North American wildflower that has become naturalized on the North Carolina coast, has been cultivated and hybridized and become a staple in gardens. Treasured for its brightly colored, daisy-like blossoms, hardiness and no-fuss lifestyle, it thrives in sandy, infertile soil and tolerates salt spray. Hardy in growing zones throughout the state, it will flourish most anywhere it is given good drainage and full sun. Growing 1–2 feet tall with an equal-size spread, it is considered a short-lived perennial but often self-sows new offspring. Firewheel will flower the first year from seed. Multiple combinations of bloom color are available in varying combinations of red, yellow and orange. Firewheel makes beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers.
Depending on the variety, firewheel plants can become floppy, but they can tolerate moderate to heavy shearing. The new variety ‘Mesa Yellow’, which is topped with masses of yellow blossoms, forms neat mounds. It won accolades in the 2010 All-America Selections trials. To find sources of seed, visit www.all-americaselections.org. Other popular firewheel varieties include ‘Arizona Sun’, ‘Fanfare’ and ‘Goblin’. ‘Sundance Bicolor’ is a double-flowered offering.