Updated at: 19-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Known for their daisy-like blooms, coreopsis is a bright and cheery summer annual or herbaceous perennial. Coreopsis, or tickseed, is an easy-to-grow garden plant native to North and Central America.

Coreopsis can be annual or perennial, depending on the species (lasting for several years). In addition to the yellow flowers, some perennial coreopsis plants exhibit pink or bicolored flowers. Color options for annual types include orange, pink and red along with yellow. Colorful and vibrant coreopsis daisies bloom in abundance and are mostly single, with some doubles.

Perennial coreopsis can bloom in their first year if seeded early, and annual coreopsis is easy to grow from seed. Coreopsis types with taller stems and upright blooms make excellent cut flowers.

In order to attract wildlife, Coreopsis is a wonderful choice. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other insects visit the blossoms, and birds feed on the seeds that they produce.

How to grow coreopsis?

During the summer months, perennial coreopsis provide a burst of color. They are perennials that die back in the winter and re-grow the following spring, providing a burst of color throughout the year.

Large-flower Tickseed | Perennial Wildflower | Garret Seed Farm | NC

Plant perennial coreopsis in the fall or spring so that they can get established before the major growth season, although plants can also be planted in the summer as long as they are hydrated until they get established in. Each variety of plant should be spaced between 40 and 50 cm apart.

For late spring planting, either direct sow annual coreopsis seeds outdoors or in pots under protection. After the last frosts, you can start planting tender coreopsis for your borders and containers. Plant them in full sun or partial shade, and in a well-drained soil that drains well.

A well-drained soil is necessary for Coreopsis to thrive. Use a peat-free multi-purpose potting compost when growing plants in containers.

  • Coreopsis seeds are being planted.
  • Keeping coreopsis healthy
  • Coreopsis propagation
  • Pests and solutions in coreopsis cultivation
  • Where can you buy coreopsis
  • Grow the best coreopsis.

Where to grow coreopsis

Echinacea and salvia can be used to cultivate coreopsis in pots.

Large pots and borders filled with annual coreopsis are ablaze with summer color. Tall coreopsis are great paired with other annual flowers to produce brightly colored mixed plantings and add jewel-like brilliance to an informal summer-flowering meadow. Shorter, bushier kinds are good for big pots and borders, while taller forms are best grown in the ground.

Where to buy coreopsis online

Morgan, Thompson &

Suttons

Primrose

How to care for coreopsis

Once grown, perennial cultivars require minimal attention. In windy areas, taller cultivars may require staking or other forms of support. Dead vegetation should be removed before new leaves sprout in the spring, so that the plant can begin the process of regeneration.

Slugs may be a problem for annual coreopsis in borders or meadow mixtures when the plants are young. During long periods of drought, especially for young plants, watering may be necessary.

If you’re planting Coreopsis in a container during the summer, make sure to water it frequently so that the compost is evenly moist. A potash-rich liquid fertilizer should be applied every two weeks starting in the late summer (such as tomato fertilizer).

Keep your potted Coreopsis looking beautiful and encouraging additional blooms by regularly deadheading. However, leaving the heads of perennials in borders provides food for birds that consume seeds, such as finches.

Once the blooms have bloomed, coreopsis care is straightforward. Coreopsis is frequently deadheaded to encourage the growth of additional flowers. Coreopsis can be trimmed down by one-third in late summer to ensure that the plant continues to produce flowers throughout the season. The only care required for coreopsis is the above-mentioned deadheading and clipping, which can be done only in times of acute drought, as is the case with many native plants. This plant does not require fertilization and over-fertilization can reduce blossom yield. Add some coreopsis to your garden now that you know how to cultivate it and how easy it is to take care of it. For its long-lasting beauty and ease of care, coreopsis is a great wildflower choice.

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

How to propagate coreopsis

Coreopsis – Coreopsis ‘Buttermilk’ how to grow

Sow the seeds of perennial coreopsis in late winter. Plant in the ground in the early summer and continue to grow in pots.

Early spring is the ideal time to divide and replant perennial coreopsis that is at least a few years old and has produced a good-sized clump.

Perennial coreopsis basal shoots can be gently removed in spring with a tiny amount of root. Separately pot and grow on a plant later in the year in small pots.

Growing coreopsis is also a piece of cake. In the spring, simply seed a prepared patch of undisturbed soil in a full-sun site. Coreopsis seeds need light to germinate, so cover the seeds lightly with soil or perlite or just push them into damp soil to begin the process of seed germination It takes about 21 days for coreopsis seedlings to germinate. The seeds of coreopsis can be misted with water to keep them wet. Coreopsis can be grown in profusion if you sow the plants in succession. It is possible to start Coreopsis plants from cuttings in the spring and summer.

Growing coreopsis: problem-solving

Coreopsis are easy-to-care-for plants with few issues. Make sure you don’t overfeed the plants in your borders, since this might lead to a reduction in blossom production. Slugs and snails may prey on seedlings, which are vulnerable to their attacks.

Advice on buying coreopsis

  • The ideal fit for your landscape can be found among a multitude of possibilities.
  • Specialist nurseries may offer additional options, but huge online stores sometimes have lower prices.
  • Before planting, make sure the plants you buy are healthy and inspect them for signs of pests or damage.

Where to buy coreopsis online

  • Morgan, Thompson &
  • Suttons
  • Primrose

Coreopsis varieties to grow

How to grow ‘Grandiflora’ Coreopsis verticillata?

  • Late summer brings profusion of clear rose-pink blooms to the Coreopsis rosea (pink tickseed) plant’s delicate clusters of slender, grass-like foliage. Perennial. 60 centimeters
  • Uptick’s Coreopsis tripteris range features ‘Cream and Red’, ‘Yellow’, and Bronze. Perennial
  • Compact and flowering from early to late summer, Coreopsis verticillata is a Coreopsis species. The feathery, fern-like leaves of some cultivars is an added feature. Bengal Tiger’s spectacular, red-and-yellow bicolor flowers were named for its resemblance to tiger eyes, and they certainly live up to their name. The newest variety to blossom, ‘Grandiflora,’ has dazzling yellow flowers. June to September bring the gentle yellow flowers of ‘Moonbeam,’ with a darker center. In contrast to its dark green filigree leaves, ‘Zagreb’ has huge, star-shaped, bright yellow flowers on wiry, tall stalks. Perennial. 50-60 cm in height.
  • This variety of Coreopsis is normally grown as an annual, although it can also be a perennial if properly cared for. Semi-double yellow flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Annual. 60 centimeters in height
  • Coreopsis Plants of ‘Mango Punch’ are covered in orange-yellow blossoms. Annual. 40 cm in height
  • There are a lot of vivid pink blooms on the Coreopsis ‘Pink Lady.’ Annual. 40 cm in height
  • Coreopsis ‘Rum Punch,’ a bushy, compact plant, produces an abundance of orange-pink blossoms. Annual. 30 centimeters tall.

How to Grow Coreopsis Throughout the Season

Coreopsis grows in clusters that are erect and have a slow growth pace.

yellow tickseed flower coreopsis honeybee sucks Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 1013533643 | Shutterstock

Staking isn’t necessary because plants are often only a foot to 18 inches tall. A “hoop”-style cage may be necessary for plants who are getting taller, or those that are getting taller because they are growing in part shade, in mid to late spring.

After planting, be sure to keep your plants well-watered (water deeply every few days). They may only require water if they are wilting or if the drought continues for an extended period of time; nevertheless, most varieties can endure some drought.

When it comes to fertilizing, you can use either synthetic or organic fertilizer at the recommended rates on the container. You don’t need a lot of fertilizer to keep Coreopsis from becoming a tall plant with only leaves and no flowers. Adding a spring side-dressing of compost to already-good soils may be all that’s required.

Remove deadheads to encourage more blooms in the future by trimming and pruning. It’s possible to remove a lot of dead flowers with a pair of scissors or a pair of grass clippers. Plants should be cut back by one-quarter to one-half in order to maintain a clean habit and increase their chances of flowering later in the season.

Early spring is a good time to apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of an organic mulch like bark or straw around (not over) your plants to help conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and inhibit weed seeds from developing.

Coreopsis: End of Season Care

Cut perennials back to a few inches of stems at the base in late fall after multiple hard frosts. So the “crowns” can be protected, ready for the next spring when the base growth is already present. To let birds like goldfinches to eat their seeds, avoid cutting back too early in the fall. Remove annual kinds that have been harmed by cold and compost them (unless they have pests or are diseased).

After three or four years, perennial coreopsis may need to be divided or transplanted if they look weak and flower less frequently. Using hand tools, divide the plants into smaller parts, then maintain them well-watered for several weeks until they are established and thriving.

Low-maintenance plants Coreopsis have few, if any, pests or diseases. To remove aphids from plant stems, use a strong stream of water. There is a good likelihood that your plants are rotting at the base (crown) because they are overwatered. In the event that this is the case, dig up and relocate the plants.

The whitish powdery mildew that affects plants with wider leaves is more of an aesthetic annoyance than a threat to the plant’s health.

When you first see this condition, apply labeled sprays, several of which are organic, to help stop its spread. In contrast to most other diseases, powdery mildew does not necessitate the presence of moisture on leaves in order to spread.

Coreopsis: Extra Info

Want more coreopsis? Here’s how to grow more! You can divide them in the spring or early fall as long as each division has at least a few new growth points. Seeds from annuals and perennials should germinate in two to three weeks, making them ideal for starting from seed.

Before the last frost, start seeds inside six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Seeds require sunshine to germinate, so don’t cover them up. Sow your seeds in a medium that includes peat moss and perlite, keep the temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep the soil moist.

There are many companion plants that work well with Coreopsis. Some examples include: daylilies and shasta daisies; the Helen’s bloom; the blue mist shrub; speedwells; blanket flowers; perennial salvia; lavender; Russian and Autumn stonecrops Along the perimeter of the garden, in masses, along walks, in cottage gardens, in small groups, or solitary in rock gardens, use this plant. Wildflower seed mixes generally include annual kinds that self-sow, making them ideal for wildflower seed mixtures.