I used to see these roadside full sun sandy coastal soil blooming away; will they bloom under an oak tree that is in front of the living room window, it gets pretty good sun in the afternoon, what do you think?

I think it will. It's worth a try. They aren't expensive so I say give it a go.

They like sun, but I have some native Gaillardia pulchella in my garden that get really good sun until about 2PM then shaded by the house and they do well. One thing I notice they do better in areas of NO irrigation, they love sandy soil too, they reseed. The plants in the Box stores usually isn't native Gaillardia, but may do better under an oak, as long as at least six hours of sun.

sunkissed said:They like sun, but I have some native Gaillardia pulchella in my garden that get really good sun until about 2PM then shaded by the house and they do well. One thing I notice they do better in areas of NO irrigation, they love sandy soil too, they reseed. The plants in the Box stores usually isn't native Gaillardia, but may do better under an oak, as long as at least six hours of sun.

Most likely the ones I saw as a child were native ones, kinda scrawny, but blooming. Seeing the long germination time that they need to stay moist do they need to be exposed to direct sunlight; or could they germinate staying moist from inside; would be easier if so.

They line the roadsides around Saint Augustine and make every vacant lot look like a garden. Love them!

alpharalpha said:

Most likely the ones I saw as a child were native ones, kinda scrawny, but blooming. Seeing the long germination time that they need to stay moist do they need to be exposed to direct sunlight; or could they germinate staying moist from inside; would be easier if so.

I've never germinated the seeds myself, since these are native plants, I just let them naturally germinate, and they do a fine job on their own, with nothing but rain.

ardesia said:They line the roadsides around Saint Augustine and make every vacant lot look like a garden. Love them!

They are beautiful, they grow well along side the roads, and in neglected areas.