Gallardia

[sixtiesfan]

Can anyone tell me please if I have to cut of the dead heads of my plants as this is the first year I have grown this flower in my garden. Also can you tell me please will it return to me or is it an Annual.

MaNY THANKS

[Clanad]

We've always grown several Gaillardia'here in the western U.S., where out lowest winter temperature reaches -25 to -30 (F) and they seem to do well. They are short lived for a perennial, though. Don't expect more than two or three years. You can deadhead if you wish, but I've found, other than tiding up the plant they continue to bloom throughout the summer without the snipping. (They're often called Blanket Flowers here...

Since they are fairly short lived, collect some seeds from the plant each summer to propagate additional plats...