Here’s a tough perennial for the hot high desert garden: gaillardia. I can’t recall which cultivar is in the photo, but along with ‘Burgundy’ , if you stop watering them, they actually perform.
No? Oh yee of little faith. I didn’t believe it either. So I forced myself to turn off the sprinkler head that watered the area where I had planted Burgundy. That was 2 months ago. Surprise! It is still blooming and looking better than ever, and we are into September. It doesn’t flop. It’s strong. It has tons of blossoms. The one in the flower bed that is getting regular irrigation? Uh, yeah, the one the husband is in charge of? Near his turf (literally)? Watered 2-3 times a week? It’s almost died out, spindly, floppy, a few blooms, ratty looking.
Turn off the water. Just give it a try. You can always turn it back on.
Great advice – and reading this I realize that mine was puny the better part of the summer (when we had some regular rains). Then the rain went away and it got very hot and dry and it revived — until I started watering! I’m going to plant more, and will put them where there is no water and see what happens!