I love to grow Gaillardia. They are some of the sturdiest prolific bloomers for my hot, sometimes humid/sometimes dry Arizona garden. I have Burgundy, Arizona Apricot, Goblin, Golden Goblin, Mesa Yellow, Mesa Peach and had some Pulchella (the annual). Now maybe I have to try the Punch Bowl. Looking at your picture, they remind me of a cross between Pulchella and Burgundy. I have started them indoors in the summer, planted them out in the fall in mid-September here, and they bloom like crazy in mid-spring (March here). I've winter sown them, planted in early spring and they didn't bloom until later summer, but still like crazy. I sowed some Sundance Bicolor (sold as an annual) indoors in the winter, set out in early spring (Feb 15 or so here) and they bloomed dark red the first year, in April. The second year they bloomed with a lot of yellow and some red in March. Did the bees do that?This year, year three I had to pull them out because they got really straggly despite cutting them back hard. So, here they weren't an annual. We are in the same zone, so maybe the Punch Bowl won't be for you. I have a lot of volunteers this year and can't wait to see what variety they are. They are great for filling in empty spots if they volunteer in the right place. They also move and divide really easily. One thing that helps me keep them going (I have some five years old) is to cut off the blooms in Nov/Dec so they don't wear themselves out. I tell them not to waste it, but they don't listen. If I remove the buds in Nov/Dec it seems to rejuvenate them. Please let us know how the Punch Bowl do for you. They are pretty.
