Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow'

Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow': Sunshine in Bloom from Summer to Fall
Cheerful and sun-drenched, Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' lights up the garden with brilliant, golden-yellow blooms that radiate warmth from early summer through autumn. Bred for compact form and exceptional performance, this selection from the Mesa series combines the toughness of native blanket flowers with modern garden elegance. Heat-tolerant, drought-resistant, and endlessly floriferous, it brings low-maintenance colour and pollinator appeal to borders, containers, and dry landscapes.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 40–50 cm
• Spread: 30–45 cm, forming a neat, rounded mound
• Flower Colour: Bright golden-yellow petals with a warm amber centre cone
• Flowering Period: Early summer to early autumn
• Foliage: Green, lance-shaped leaves with a fine, slightly fuzzy texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, average to sandy or rocky soil; drought-tolerant once established

Uses and Benefits: Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' is perfect for brightening sunny borders, adding long-lasting colour to xeriscapes, or providing a golden accent in patio containers. Its compact size makes it easy to integrate into small gardens, while its nonstop blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soils, making it an ideal choice for low-maintenance, high-impact planting schemes.

Companion Plants: Pair Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' with Lavandula 'Phenomenal', whose violet-blue flower spikes and fragrant grey-green foliage offer a cooling contrast and thrive in the same dry, sunny conditions. Add Achillea 'Sassy Summer Lemon', whose taller lemon-yellow umbels echo the cheerful tone and extend the vertical profile of the planting. Complete the look with Sedum 'Lime Zinger', whose rounded, succulent leaves and soft pink blooms create a playful, textural counterpoint.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid overly rich or wet soils, which can lead to floppiness or crown rot. Water regularly during the first growing season, then sparingly, as plants are drought-tolerant once established. Deadhead to encourage continuous flowering, or leave seed heads for fall interest and wildlife value. Cut back in early spring and divide every 2–3 years to maintain health and compact shape.

History: Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' is a standout in the Mesa series of Gaillardia x grandiflora cultivars, developed for exceptional uniformity, strong flowering, and vibrant colour. Derived from hardy North American prairie species, it retains the drought resistance and pollinator benefits of its wild ancestors while offering a more refined, garden-ready form. Recognized for its performance across climates, it has become a favourite in pollinator and low-water gardens.

Final Thoughts: Bright, bold, and built for resilience, Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' offers the golden glow of summer with no strings attached. Whether anchoring a dry border, softening a gravel path, or lighting up a container, it delivers effortless cheer and ecological value all season long. For gardeners who want sunshine that blooms, this is a perennial that truly shines.