When it arrives
Your plug tray
Plant plugs in full sun after frost or pot into 4 in pots. Water lightly; let soil dry slightly between waterings. Plugs often bloom the first summer.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Arizona Apricot grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 12.0 in
- Mature spread
- 12.0 in
- Bloom
- Mid-June – peak Mid-July
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Arizona Apricot
Blanket Flower · Gaillardia aristata
Blanket flower thrives in hot sun and lean, sandy, well-drained soil. It blooms all summer but is often short-lived, especially in rich, wet or clay soils.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Low waterFast drainage
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pH 6.0–8.0Soil
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Zones 3a–10bHardiness
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12″ tall12″ wide
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ResistantDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Arizona Apricot will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–10b
Spring after frost, early enough to root in before winter.
Your year with Arizona Apricot
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When to plant
Spring after frost, early enough to root in before winter.
How deep
Crown level with the soil surface; never buried.
Spacing
About 12–18 in apart.
Soil
Sandy, gravelly or average loam; lean · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: Don't add rich compost or fertilizer. In clay, loosen soil, mix in grit and plant on a slight mound; wet clay is the main cause of winter death.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates very light shade).
Needs full sun to bloom heavily and stay compact.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Fuzzy gray-green basal leaves appear in early to mid spring. If nothing shows by late May, the plant likely died over winter, which happens with this short-lived perennial.
Spring
Clean up old growth; plant early.
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Summer
Nonstop bloom; deadhead.
Fall
Deadhead; let a few seeds ripen for volunteers.
Winter
Keep crowns dry; no heavy mulch.
Watering
First season: Water when the top inch is dry for the first few weeks; then taper off.
After that: Very drought tolerant, but blooms longer with an occasional deep summer watering. Never keep it soggy.
Feeding
None. Fertilizer and rich soil shorten its life and cause floppy growth.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadhead to keep flowers coming and keep plants tidy into late summer. Remove dead foliage in spring. Leave a few seed heads if you want volunteer seedlings to replace older plants.
Dividing
Every 2–3 years in spring helps keep it vigorous; replant the healthy outer pieces.
Winter
Hardy to about zone 3 in dry, sandy soil. Wet winter soil kills it; don't mulch heavily over the crown.
Summer heat
Loves heat and drought. In humid weather, watch for powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Plant didn't come back
Likely cause: Short life span or wet winter soil
What to do: Replant in leaner, sandier soil and let a few seedlings grow to replace older plants.
Flowers green and deformed
Likely cause: Aster yellows
What to do: Remove and trash the plant.
Sprawling, floppy plant
Likely cause: Rich soil, too much water or shade
What to do: Stop feeding and watering; move to full sun.
Too wet or too dry?
Yellowing and a mushy crown: too wet. Wilting in long drought: needs a deep drink.
Watch for
- Aster yellows
- Powdery mildew and leaf spot
- Crown and root rot in wet soil
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant. The fuzzy hairs can irritate skin; wear gloves.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 1 gallon+
Compact types are great in sunny pots; use free-draining mix and don't overwater.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and an outdoor winter.
Winter chill
No chill needed
Blooms the first summer from plugs and keeps going until frost; no chill needed.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 1 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
Same sunny, lean, dry bed. Its warm red-and-yellow daisies contrast with lavender's purple and keep blooming after lavender's first flush.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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