Hi there! I grow Gaillardias in containers, started in April 2011 as seedlings I bought at QVC. I grow Arizona Red Shades, Arizona Sun and Mesa Yellow. So far from what I have seen, as seedlings they require adequate watering on fast draining soil. As they continue to mature, they would prefer to dry out before you water again. Our weather is mostly drier and our winters are normally cool and wet, we do not have snow here. They really love full sun and continued on blooming all year long, though I think since it is in containers not as profuse as those I see growing on the ground. I was away almost whole summer of 2011, so I do not have much summertime photos last year.
The blooms are bigger and faster coming out when it is warmer, though they will continue blooming during colder season, but a bit smaller. So this would be my 2nd year with them, and so far, they are growing well, especially more by summertime. I deadhead the blooms once it is finished, since there is almost always another bloom at the lower part of the bloom stalk waiting to bloom.
Here is how they look like when I got them:
April 2011
June 2011
late October 2011
Jan 2012
March 2012
April 2012
Of the three types, Arizona Sun and Mesa Yellow are much more active growers. Arizona Red Shades seems more active when it is the height of summer.
