The blossom may face dainty , but do n’t be take in : tickweed is one tough plant .

tick-weed is a highly adaptable group of plant life , easy to use in nearly all garden preferences . The tender perennial and yearly tickweed flora are usable in an regalia of colors and patterns . With bright fiddling flower , coreopsis is a bang-up familiar works forornamental grassesand other tough annuals and perennials .

Coreopsis typically begins flower in early summertime , and the blossoms can last a while . Less - hardy varieties tend to be longer - blooming , particularly whendeadheaded regularlyto boost Modern blossom . As their blossom time of year advance , result a few flowers on the plant so doll can dine on the tasty seed .

Article image

Credit: Marty Ross

tickseed height vary by type , with midget varieties remaining under 2 feet tall . Some miscellanea extend creeping rhizomes , creating dense stand of the plant .

Where to Plant Coreopsis

tickweed is a low - maintenance efflorescence plant suitable for beds , borders , and container . Some tickseed works are perennialsin USDA Zones 3–9 , while others are annuals . Plant coreopsis in well - run out soil that receivessix to eight hours of full sundaily for the unspoilt flower production . The plant tolerates lightheaded spook , but the efflorescence is not as robust .

How and When to Plant Coreopsis

After the last frost in spring , inseminate coreopsis seeds out of doors in prepared grime . Do n’t cover the germ ; they call for light to spud . Keep the soil moist until the seeds evolve . The stain does n’t need to be amended if it drains well . As the seedlings grow , thin them to 12 to 18 inch asunder .

Gardeners can get a heading start on the season bysowing tickweed sow indoorsin a seed - starting admixture eight week before the last frost ( not shroud the seeds ) . Keep them fond and moist until they germinate . transplantation annual coreopsis plants out of doors in natural spring . Perennial coreopsis can be transplanted outside anytime between spring and early fall .

Coreopsis is often available as a nursery - grown plant . Plant it in spring or early summertime in a prepared bed . drudge a trap the same depth as the nursery container and only a little wide . Set the plant in the fix at the same level it was in the container . Backfill with grime and tamp it down . Water regularly until the plant is established .

vigorous coreopsis ‘creme brulee’ version of ‘moonbeam’

Credit: Marty Ross

Coreopsis Care Tips

Coreopsis can live on inless - than - ideal conditions . They ’re known to expand along roadside and in ditches . relatively , gardens provide ideal conditions , even when the stain is subpar .

Light

These drought - tolerant plant ask bunch of sunshine . In shade , tickseed does n’t flower as well , becomes long-shanked , and is prostrate to foliar disease .

Soil and Water

After they are establish in the garden , tick-weed plants prefer to be give a little on the dry side . The soil does n’t need to be enrich ; coreopsis plants grow well in most grime conditions as long as itdrains well .

Temperature and Humidity

tick-weed prefers a daytime temperature of 70 ° F to 80 ° F and a nighttime temperature above 50 ° farad . It tolerates summer humidity and drouth condition .

Fertilizer

Do not fertilize coreopsis plant life at any degree of their growth . Applying fertilizer reduces flush production and go to spindly plants .

Pruning

Perennial tickseed is a long - flower plant that can be coached into reblooming by punctilious deadheading . Cut the efflorescence stalk with the dead bloom back to the ground . Annual tickseed does n’t want deadheading . Prune coreopsis for decorative purpose or to move out dead or damage fore at any sentence during the time of year .

After frost in the fall , cut perennial coreopsis plantsdown to about 6 inches from the ground .

Potting and Repotting Coreopsis

Coreopsis is an excellentcontainer plantand a welcome improver to a cheery patio or garden route . A container with drainage holes and well - draining grime is all that is needed . Choose a container several inches wide than the nursery plant container for a single plant life , or fill a half whisky barrel with three or more works .

You do n’t need to interest about repot one-year coreopsis because it only lasts one year . As for recurrent tickseed , bring down the leaf back to 6 inches each wintertime ; repotting may be unnecessary .

Pests and Problems

Although comparatively pestis - free , tick-weed is known to attractaphidsand tickseed beetles . Treat aphids and beetle larvae with commercial-grade insecticidal scoop . share with adult beetles by flicking them off the plant into a jar of oily urine .

When a coreopsis is plant in shade , it is vulnerable to foliar diseases such as downy mildew andpowdery mould .

How to Propagate Coreopsis

Coreopsis can be propagate by seed , cutting , or division .

Seeds : Seed heads form at the website of a beat or dying blossom . If the seminal fluid head is already wry , pluck it and jam it between your fingers to reap the seed , which you could plant the next spring . If the seed mind has not dried , cut about 6 inches of the theme it is on and hang it upside down in a warm , dry office until it dry . Then , crush it to harvest the seed .

Division : Use a spade tolift an entire perennial coreopsisplant and stem egg from the ground . Choose a matured plant that is at least two years old . With a garden trowel , divide the plant into several subdivision , each with its own roots , being measured not to damage the source . Plant each partition in the garden immediately and pee well .

yellow coreopsis grandiflora' early sunrise'

Credit: Bert Klassen

Cuttings : edit a 4- to 6 - column inch piece of stem beneath a node at a 45 ° F angle . bump off all the leave-taking except for those at the top of the cutting . Dip eachcutting into rooting hormoneand insert it into a throne ofvermiculite or perliteuntil only the top leaf are prove . Moisten the planting medium , and place the pot in a bright , warm place . gibe for roots in two or three weeks by lightly labor a leaf . After the carving develop a healthy origin system , they can be planted in the garden .

Types of Coreopsis

Combining one-year and fond repeated tick-weed with brave varieties widen the raiment of available colors and yield some beautiful annuals that flower nonstop from summer through downslope — no deadheading need . These make an excellent alternative for late - summer andfall planting .

‘Creme Brulee’ Coreopsis

Coreopsisverticillata‘Creme Brulee ’ is a vigorous edition of ‘ Moonbeam ’ coreopsis at 18 inch tall and 24 inch wide . It is stout in Zones 5–9 and produces big flowers all along its stalk , giving the plant a entire - than - medium appearance .

‘Early Sunrise’ Coreopsis

Coreopsis grandiflora‘Early Sunrise ’ is a dwarf pattern that grows only 15 inches tall and bloom the first year from source . It tends to be short - lived and prefers zone 4–9 .

‘Lanceleaf’ Coreopsis

‘ Lanceleaf ’ coreopsis(Coreopsis lanceolata)is hardy in Zones 3–8 and bearsbright icteric daisiesin May and June . It grows to about 2 feet tall .

‘Limerock Dream’ Coreopsis

Coreopsisverticillata‘Limerock Dream ’ is usually grown as an annual but is hardy in Zones 6–9 . It produces two - tonepink flowerswith feathery leaves . This variety requires good soil drain over wintertime .

‘Limerock Ruby’ Coreopsis

tickseed rosea‘Limerock Ruby ’ stuns with mystifying pink daisies on feathery leafage that resembles the verdure of the threadleaf coreopsis . It is loosely grown as an annual but is hardy in Zones 7–9 .

‘Moonbeam’ Threadleaf Coreopsis

tickweed verticillata‘Moonbeam ’ , a threadleaf variety , is a loyalist in thesunny perennial border . It is ego - cleaning and has a long season of pale yellow daisies . Plant this beauty in Zones 4–9 .

Pink Coreopsis

Coreopsis roseais one of the eccentric person of the family . It has pinkish peak rather of the usual yellowness and opt more moisture than other varieties . Divide the spreading clumps yearly to keep them grow smartly . It ’s fit for Zones 3–8 .

‘Zagreb’ Threadleaf Coreopsis

‘ Zagreb ’ , another threadleaf variety , arise to 18 in tall and bears vivid gold daisies on ferny medium green foliage . This is a reliable pick for Zones 4–9 .

Coreopsis Companion Plants

Salvia

Hundreds ofsalvias , commonly called sage(including the herb used in cooking ) , are available , and new selection for decorative garden appear annually . What most have in usual are beautiful , tall blossom spikes and attractive , often hoar - green leaves . They ’re appreciate for their long blossom time of year , which extends decent up until frost . Although not all are hardy in cold-blooded mood , salvias are easy to grow as yearly ; they care full sun or very abstemious shade with well - drained , average dirt . The loose spires of tubular flowers in bright blues , violets , yellows , pinks , and reds mix well with other perennial in beds and borders .

Veronica

Easy and undemanding , veronicascatch the eye in sunny gardens over many months . Some have mats with slack clusters of dish antenna - shaped flowers ; others tightly group virtuoso or tubular bloom on unbent - up spike . A few veronicas contribute elusive blue to the garden , but more often , the efflorescence are purplish or violet - disconsolate , rosy pink , or white . Provide full sun , average , well - drained soil , and extend bloom fourth dimension with regular deadheading .

Yarrow

Yarrow loan a wildflower look to any garden . Perhaps predictably , it ’s easy to give care for . In some garden , it expand with almost no attention , making it a good candidate for naturalistic planting in open areas and along the edge of wooded or other wild places . Its colourful , flat - top blooms rise above clusters of ferny foliage . The tough plants resist drought , arerarely eat by cervid and rabbits , and unfold pretty rapidly , make yarrow a good selection for mass in borders or as a ground cover . If deadheaded after the first flush of bloom fade , yarrow will rebloom . If left to dry on the works , blossom clusters of some case provide wintertime interest .

Frequently Asked Questions

Birds jazz it for the tasty seeds it provide . Butterflies and other pollinators are drawn to it for its nectar . Coreopsis will bring welcome wildlife to your garden while deer ride out away .

Coreopsis is a short - lived perennial that unremarkably lives for three to five years in the garden .

Fortunately , tickseed is n’t toxic , because cats and dogs wish to nestle under its thick foliage when the weather is hot . It ’s safe for people , too .

single yellow coreopsis lanceolata bloom

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Yes , they unfold by rhizome . They also spread quickly by self - seeding , so choose an orbit turgid enough to give the plants space for expansion .

two-tone coreopsis ‘limerock dream’ blooms

Credit: Jay Wilde

pink coreopsis ‘limerock ruby’ daisies detail

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

yellow coreopsis verticillata ‘moonbeam’

‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis is a more compact cultivar of a native plant.Credit: Mark Kane

pink coreopsis rosea blossoms

Credit: Susan Gilmore

yellow coreopsis verticillata ‘zagreb’

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

May Night Salvia deep purple and yellow flowers

Credit: Stephen Cridland

Purple Veronicas in garden

Credit: Marty Baldwin

detail of yarrow yarrow and purle penstemon

Credit: Tim Murphy