Japanese name: テンニンギク（天人菊） Scientific name:Gaillardia pulchella
[Overview]
A perennial 30–60 cm tall, but it is treated as an annual.
The stem is erect and much branched, and bears soft hairs, as do the leaves.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem; they are oblong-elliptic, 4–8 cm long, and the leaves on the lower part of the stem are pinnately lobed or have toothed margins.
The leaves on the upper part of the stem are entire.
Flower heads 4–6 cm across are borne at the stem tips; the ray florets are yellow at the tip and reddish purple at the base.
The tubular flowers are reddish purple.
The fruit is an achene.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by stem cuttings, or by division.
The optimum temperature for germination is 15–18°C.
It prefers fertile, sunny, well-drained soil.
It dislikes dryness.
If the conditions suit it, it grows well even when left alone.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues and the soil dries out.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
