Arizona Apricot Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Apricot’)

Arizona Apricot Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Apricot’) is a vibrant long-blooming perennial prized for its warm apricot-orange daisy-like blooms and exceptional drought tolerance. Flowering continuously from early summer into fall, this compact gaillardia adds rich sunset-inspired colour and pollinator activity to perennial borders, rock gardens, prairie plantings, and sunny landscape beds.

The large blooms feature soft apricot petals blended with warm golden and peach tones surrounding deep reddish centres, creating a glowing multicoloured effect throughout the season. Its compact mounded growth habit makes it especially useful for edging, smaller gardens, patio containers, and mass plantings where nonstop colour is desired. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators are highly attracted to the nectar-rich flowers.

The gray-green foliage remains tidy beneath the blooms and offers excellent heat and drought tolerance once established. Arizona Apricot is especially valued for thriving in hot dry garden conditions with minimal maintenance while continuing to flower heavily throughout Prairie summers.

In Alberta, Arizona Apricot Blanket Flower performs best in full sun with sharply drained soil and moderate watering during establishment. Once mature, it thrives in hot dry Prairie conditions and develops outstanding drought resistance and winter hardiness.