Of all the beach flowers, Gaillardia is the only one that is there by choice. In yards which are irrigated, Oleander, Rudbeckia, and Rosemary grow well. But how many volunteers do you see growing out in the dunes? My late summer visit to the NC beach found the dunes blanketed in Blanket Flower. No individuals were large bunched plants like their kin growing with a gardeners care and regular water. All the little Gaillardia plants were single stem with a flower or two per plant. They made up for individual size by shear numbers. The vacant lot next to the walk over the dunes was completely filled as if sown on purpose. With little or no competition, Gaillardia grew freely from seed.
Gaillardia in a garden setting is expected to perform with more color than the wild cousins are capable of as individuals. Sharing their tolerance for hot, dry locations, cultivars of Gaillardia such as “ArizonaSun” give the hardiness of the wild species and more flowers and much better plant habits. Ariziona Sun grow to only 12” hiigh and a nice 15” spread. It will flower from mid-summer to fall.
If looking for a flowering plant for a beach garden, Gailadia in a native which cannot be overlooked. Choose cultivars for any planted beds. Any wild areas can be seeded by collecting from wild pants.