Native to North America, coreopsis brings sunshine to your garden with its upright clumps and continuous summer bloom. These cheerful, daisy-like flowers might not fill the air with fragrance, but their foliage offers a hint of anise.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance, long-blooming flower with drought tolerance capacity, look no further than coreopsis plants. This plant is beautiful and easy to grow and care for.
About Coreopsis Flower
Coreopsis comes in a surprising variety! Some sport large, lush green leaves, while others have thinner, more delicate foliage. These plants are often called tickseed, which comes from their round, seed-shaped heads that resemble ticks.
These seeds are a delicious winter treat for birds and other wildlife, while the colorful blooms themselves attract helpful pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Regarding its planting season, coreopsis are best suited for spring. Also, they come in perennial and annual varieties, so choose the one that suits your interests and weather requirements. Coreopsis flower type one thriving in zones 2-8 dies back in winter but returns faithfully each spring.
While in colder zones (zones 2 and 3), you can protect the plant's underground roots with a layer of mulch. These varieties take a little longer to get going, but you can expect a dazzling display of flowers starting in their second year.
Annual coreopsis, on the other hand, starts blooming in early summer and continues throughout the fall.
How to Grow Coreopsis From Seed?
Coreopsis aren't just beautiful bloomers, they're also surprisingly easy to grow from seed! Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Planting Indoors
• First, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area.
• Fill seedling trays or small pots with a well-draining potting mix.
• Then, sow seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly press them in. Don't bury them deeply.
• Keep the soil moist but not soggy and place the seedlings in a bright location, ideally under grow lights or a sunny window.
Alternatively, you can sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or fall after the danger of frost has passed. So, choose your desired location with proper sunlight and sow the seeds directly on the soil surface. Make sure you space them according to mature plant size.
But if you are okay with relocating it after it sprouts, sow the seeds as you like and gently press them into the soil. Once it starts sprouting, you can space them accordingly.
Germination and Care
Usually, seeds should germinate within 7-30 days, depending on temperature and conditions. So, to maintain healthy germination, keep the soil moist in the initial stage. Once established, water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.
If seedlings are crowded, thin them to the recommended spacing (check seed packet) once they have a few sets of true leaves.
How to Care for Coreopsis?
The key to keeping tickseed flowers happy is finding a spot that gets plenty of sun, at least 6-8 hours a day. When planting, make sure to consider how big they'll get when fully grown and space them out accordingly. This gives them room to breathe and prevents overcrowding.
For an extra burst of blooms throughout summer and fall, pinch off the dead flowers! This is called deadheading and it encourages your coreopsis to keep producing those cheerful daisy-like flowers. It's a simple way to get the most out of your low-effort, long-blooming friends!
Light
Coreopsis thrives in full sun, needing at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This sunlight fuels their growth and flower production. So, choose a place in your garden that offers maximum sunlight for these flowers to grow up to their full potential.
These flowers are adaptable to various soil types but prefer well-drained soil. If the soil is heavy clay, amend it with sand or compost to improve drainage, as poor drainage can lead to root rot.
Water
Newly planted coreopsis need regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Once established, they are quite drought tolerant. However, for the most vibrant blooms, water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Although you can also water in the evenings, early morning watering is ideal.
Fertilizer
Coreopsis are not heavy feeders and generally don't require fertilizer. In fact, too much fertilizer can reduce flowering. But if your soil is poor, you can give them a light feeding with a balanced fertilizer in the spring.
Humidity
These plants are not particular about humidity levels and will do well in both high and low-humidity environments.
Temperature
Coreopsis is generally cold-hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to USDA zone 2 (-40°F). Although the foliage may die back in winter, the plant will return in the spring.
Pruning
While coreopsis are generally low-maintenance bloomers, they can lose their shape. If your coreopsis seems tired and losing its shape, don't be afraid to give it a dramatic cut. Cutting it back completely to the ground in late fall or early spring will encourage vigorous new shoots and rejuvenate the plant.
To ensure and encourage continuous blooming, you can cut back during the growing season, cutting different sections of your plant weekly. As the plant won't make new flowers on a stem that already bloomed, deadheading (removing spent blooms), your coreopsis can also help them flower through summer and fall.
Propagating
Perennial coreopsis is one of the resilient plants that die and return to life the next season. Although it comes back yearly, it doesn't tend to live more than three to five years.
But when is the perfect time to propagate these plants? Once you notice a decrease in flowers, it is a signal to divide them into cuttings and plant new ones.
The best time to divide your plants is late spring or early fall. To do so, you may follow the following steps-
• Carefully unearth a clump of your mature coreopsis, trying to keep the roots as intact as possible.
• Then, divide the clump into smaller sections using a sharp trowel. Make sure each section has several healthy roots.
• Lastly, plant the divided sections in new spots in your garden. Water them regularly until they settle in and show new growth, which might take a few weeks.
Potting and Repotting Plant Coreopsis
As the key to getting the best blooms is choosing the right environment, choose a pot at least 8-10 inches deep and wide with ample amount of drainage holes. Then, use a well-draining potting mix and add some sand or perlite for extra drainage if needed.
Remember, containers heat up faster than the ground, so you must water your coreopsis more frequently during hot weather. Aim to water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
Coreopsis are fast growers, and after a few years, they might outgrow their current pot. So, if you notice roots circling and stunted growth, it's a sign to repot it in a bigger container. Thus, choose a new pot that's a few inches wide and larger than the current ones and offers good drainage.
Carefully remove the root-bound coreopsis from its old pot and gently loosen any tightly packed roots. Lastly, the divided sections are replanted in their fresh container filled with new potting mix and water thoroughly.
With extra care and attention, your plant will start rewarding you with beautiful coreopsis blooms all season long!
Mostly, coreopsis is tough, but they can sometimes get bothered by slimy snails, slugs, or even spotty problems like fungus during the rainy season. But before turning to pesticides and fungicides, it is important to improve your plant's environment.
As good air circulations keeps both icky bugs and fungus away, so, avoid keeping your plants all squished together. Also, ensure they get enough sunlight to soak up the heat and bloom healthyly.
Common Coreopsis Problems
There are also certain other problems associated with growing Coreopsis. Some of those problems include:
Lack of Blooms
This might be due to insufficient sunlight (they love at least 6-8 hours a day) or poor soil drainage.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves on your plants might take you by surprise but it is usually easy to fix. In this case, the most likely culprits are a lack of sunshine and heavy clay soil. In rare cases, a lack of nutrients might be the issue, but coreopsis generally don't need fertilizer.
The solution, I hear you ask? Give them proper sunlight, water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, and improve drainage if needed. Also, skip the fertilizer, and your coreopsis leaves should be back to their vibrant green selves in no time!
Sunburned Leaves
If your plant has brown, crispy leaves, it doesn't necessarily mean a disease. This could mean that the plant is likely sunburned, and just like us, these sun-loving flowers can get a little too much of a good thing. Harsh summer afternoon sun, especially during heat waves, can scorch their leaves if they haven't been gradually acclimated.
But the good news is that sunburn usually doesn't affect the plant's overall health. Therefore, you can take these simple steps to prevent further damage and keep your coreopsis looking their best.
• If possible, offer afternoon shade with a strategically placed tree or shade cloth.
• Consistent watering is key, especially during hot weather.
• Furthermore, deep watering encourages healthy roots that can better handle the sun's intensity.
• Finally, let nature take its course. While badly sunburned leaves might not recover, the plant will keep putting out new, healthy growth.
• You can remove the brown leaves for a neater look but avoid excessive pruning.
How to Get Coreopsis to Bloom?
As we discussed earlier, this flower needs at least 6-7 hours of sunlight every day, so to get a fully blooming bunch, start by finding the perfect spot for your flowers.
But if you don't have a garden place with sunlight, plant it in a pot and relocate it. Also, forget fertilizers and supplements, as coreosis doesn't need them, and too much of them can hinder flowering.
However, if your plants seem drowsy and weak, add a little bit of compost to the soil and watch them grow back healthy in no time. Finally, deadheading, as we discussed earlier, helps to produce more beautiful flowers throughout the season.
Types of Coreopsis Plants
Generally, there are over 80 varieties of coreopsis plants, each with its own unique charm. But the most popular ones are as follows-
1. Large-flowered Tickseed
Known as Coreopsis grandiflora, this variety features large, showy golden-yellow blooms often with burgundy centers. It grows up to 2-3 feet tall and is ideal for borders and cut flowers.
2. Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata is known for its finely cut foliage and bright yellow flowers with reddish centers. It reaches about 1-2 feet tall and thrives in dry conditions.
3. Threadleaf Coreopsis
This variety, Coreopsis verticillata boasts airy foliage and numerous small yellow flowers. Shorter than other species, growing only 1-2 feet tall, it's perfect for edging and containers.
4. Tall Coreopsis
Coreopsis tripteris lives up to its name, reaching heights of 3-4 feet. It has large, golden yellow flowers with a ferny, green foliage.
5. Pink Tickseed
Also known as Coreopsis rosea, this plant stands out for its unique color. It produces rosy-pink daisy-like blooms with reddish-brown centers, which typically grow 1-2 feet tall.
Coreopsis is a champion when it comes to making a perfect garden. These sunny blooms are versatile so, you can use them to create a variety of stunning sombinations, such as-
Color Explosion
To make your garden bursting with various colors, combine coreopsis with purple coneflower, Shasta daisy, garden phlox, and yarrow for a vibrant cottage garden display. These contrasting colors create a cheerful and classic feel.
Texture Contrast
For a spiky twist, pair coreopsis with Speedwell, Liatris, and salvia. The contrasting textures add visual interest and depth to your garden. Furthermore, blue and purple tones in these spiky plants create a beautiful harmony with yellow coreopsis.
Meadow Look
To embrace the meadow look, plant your coreopsis with native wildflowers like Joe Pye weed, penstemon, black-eyed Susan, and Shenandoah switchgrass to create a relaxed and natural atmosphere.
A Paradise for Pollinators
To make your garden a haven for pollinators and attract beneficial insects, add bee-friendly plants such as Lavender, Bee Balm, Echinacea, Honeysuckle, Morning Glory, and more.
For Foliage
Use the feathery foliage of thread leaf coreopsis to soften the look of bold-leaved plants in your garden. This creates a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition.
