Grow Coreopsis for Cheerful Summer Flowers

Zones: 4-9
Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring through late summer

Growing Coreopsis: How To Care For Coreopsis Flowers

Coreopsis spp. may be just what you need if you’re looking for lasting summer color after most perennial flowers fade from the garden. It is easy to learn how to care for coreopsis flowers, commonly called tickseed or pot of gold. When you’ve learned how to grow coreopsis, you’ll appreciate their sunny blooms throughout the gardening season.

Coreopsis flowers may be annual or perennial and come in a variety of heights. A member of the Asteraceae family, blooms of growing coreopsis are similar to those of the daisy. Colors of petals include red, pink, white, and yellow, many with dark brown or maroon centers, which makes an interesting contrast to the petals.

Coreopsis is native to the United States and 33 species are known and listed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA on their website’s plant database. Coreopsis is the state wildflower of Florida, but many varieties are hardy up to USDA plant hardiness zone 4.

How to Grow Coreopsis Plants

It is equally easy to learn how to grow coreopsis. Simply seed a prepared area of un-amended soil in spring in a full sun location. Seeds of coreopsis plants need light to germinate, so cover lightly with soil or perlite or simply press seeds into moist soil. Keep the seeds of coreopsis plants watered until germination, usually within 21 days. Care of coreopsis may include misting the seeds for moisture. Sowing plants in succession will allow for an abundance of growing coreopsis.

Coreopsis plants may also be started from cuttings from spring to midsummer.

Care of Coreopsis

Care of coreopsis is simple once flowers are established. Deadhead spent blooms on growing coreopsis often for the production of more flowers. Growing coreopsis may be cut back by one-third in late summer for a continued display of blooms.

As with many native plants, coreopsis care is limited to occasional watering during extreme drought, along with the deadheading and trimming described above.

Fertilization of growing coreopsis is not needed, and too much fertilizer may limit flower production.

Now that you know how to grow coreopsis and the ease of coreopsis care, add some to your garden beds. You’ll enjoy this reliable wildflower for long lasting beauty and the simplicity of how to care for coreopsis flowers.

Grow Coreopsis for Cheerful Summer Flowers

Valued for its long bloom season and fuss-free nature, coreopsis (tickseed) has become one of the most popular plants in the perennial garden, despite an unflattering name describing the appearance of its seeds rather than the beauty of its flowers. “Garden Superstar” would be a more fitting moniker for this gorgeous native prairie plant, which produces cheery, daisy-like blooms all summer long, thriving through sweltering heat and blazing sunlight.

As a bonus, coreopsis will also attract a parade of pollinators to your garden, including bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds. Although the native species of tickseed typically bloom in shades of yellow and gold, you’ll also find a wide array of cultivars offering a greater range of color choices, tidier growth habits, and larger flowers, giving you more options than ever before.

On this page:

• BASICS
• HOW TO PLANT COREOPSIS
• TYPES OF COREOPSIS
• COREOPSIS CARE
• COREOPSIS PICTURES
• DESIGN IDEAS

BASICS

Botanical name:

Common names:

Hardiness Zones:

Typically 4-9, varies by species

Plant type:

Herbaceous pernnial or annual

Height:

6 inches (dwarf forms) to 8 feet tall

Exposure:

Bloom time:

Usually early to late summer, varies by species and cultivar

Flowers:

Rayed blooms surround a central disk; single, double, or fluted petals; shades of yellow, gold, pink, white, red, and various bi-colors.

Foliage:

May be deeply lobed, lance-like,or fine and lacy, depending on the variety.

Is coreopsis deer resistant?

Tickseed is rarely bothered by deer.

Fun fact:

“The Year of the Coreopsis” was declared in 2018 by the National Garden Bureau, which celebrates one perennial every year that meets its criteria for adaptability, genetic diversity, and versatility.

TYPES OF COREOPSIS

Li’l Bang™ Red Elf (Coreopsis hybrid). Photo by: Proven Winners.

There are about 80 species of Coreopsis, nearly half of them native to North America. Some are clump forming and others spread by rhizomes. Some of the most common species include:

• Clump-forming: C. grandiflora (large-flowered coreopsis) and C. lanceolata (lanceleaf coreopsis)
• Rhizomatous: C. auriculata (lobed or mouse-eared coreopsis), C. rosea (pink coreopsis), C. verticillata (threadleaf coreopsis), and C. tripteris (tall coreopsis)
• Annual: C. tinctoria (plains coreopsis) is another popular variety.

HOW TO PLANT COREOPSIS

When to plant:

In late spring, after the threat of frost has passed. Can also be planted in summer if kept well-watered until established.

Where to plant:

In full sun or light shade. Plants will bloom more prolifically in full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours daily).

Soil:

Don’t worry too much about the soil when planting coreopsis. It will tolerate just about any soil type as long as it’s well-drained, including sandy and rocky soils.

How to plant:

When transplanting nursery-grown plants, dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and just a bit wider. Place the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is at or just slightly above the soil level. Backfill, and then water thoroughly. To help retain soil moisture and protect the root system from temperature extremes, apply a layer of mulch around each plant.

Spacing:

12 to 20 inches, depending on the plant size at maturity

COREOPSIS CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Photo by: Pics Man24 / Shutterstock

Watering:

Water young plants regularly until they become established. Mature plants will tolerate drought and only need watering during long periods of hot, dry weather. (See more drought-tolerant plants.)

Fertilizing:

Tickseed prefers growing in lean, infertile soil. Fertilizing or amending the soil is generally not needed and may actually inhibit flower production.

Pruning and deadheading:

Flowering will often begin to wane by midsummer, as the plant begins to devote its energy to seed development. Regular deadheading will encourage continued flowering but can be time-consuming, especially if you have a lot of plants.

An easier option is to shear plants back to half their height after they show signs of slowing down, which will usually promote a new flush of blooms while removing sprawling or untidy foliage. Although regular deadheading will prolong the bloom period, be sure to leave some spent flower heads if reseeding is desired.

Dividing:

Some coreopsis (especially C. grandiflora and its cultivars) tend to be short-lived perennials and should be divided every two or three years—in early spring or fall—to extend their lifespan. You should also divide coreopsis if you notice that the center of the plant is beginning to die out or it starts to produce fewer or smaller flowers.

Pests and problems:

Coreopsis has few insect or disease problems. However, it may be susceptible to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases in areas with high humidity. See these tips for preventing and treating powdery mildew.

COREOPSIS PICTURES

Photo by: Proven Winners

UPTICK™ YELLOW and RED TICKSEED — Buy now from Proven Winners
Coreopsis hybrid

Zones: 5-9
Size: 12 to 14 inches tall and wide
Bloom time: Early to late summer

The Uptick™ series of coreopsis boasts large bi-colored flowers, a long bloom time, and a compact growth habit ideal for containers and garden borders. In addition to Yellow and Red, other color combinations in the series include Cream and Red and Gold and Bronze.

Photo by: Proven Winners

LI’L BANG™ RED ELF— Buy now from Proven Winners
Coreopsis hybrid

Zones: 5-9
Size: 8 to 12 inches tall, 10 to 15 inches wide
Bloom time: Early summer to early fall

Compact in size but big in impact, this boldly colored selection flaunts satiny red petals set off by bright yellow centers. In the heat of summer, the tips of the petals turn frosty white, but return to fully red when cooler weather returns. Also try the equally colorful Li’l Bang™ Daybreak, which features fiery reddish-orange and gold rays resembling a summer sunrise.

Photo by: Proven Winners

JETHRO TULL
Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’

Zones: 4-9
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall and wide
Bloom time: Early summer to early fall

Rocking brilliant yellow flowers with fluted petals, the aptly named ‘Jethro Tull’ is a real head turner and a stellar performer, blooming nonstop into fall without missing a beat. It’s also compact and drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for containers and water-wise gardens.

Photo by: Kabar / Shutterstock

THREADLEAF COREOPSIS
Coreopsis verticillata

Zones: 3-9
Size: 30 to 36 inches tall, 18 to 245 inches wide
Bloom time: June through September

Named for its delicate threadlike foliage, this native of the eastern U.S. is topped by a profusion of bright yellow flowers from early to late summer, and even longer if spent blooms are deadheaded. Spreads slowly by rhizomes and also reseeds, making it ideal for naturalized settings.

Photo by: guentermanaus / Shutterstock

PLAINS COREOPSIS
Coreopsis tinctoria

Zones: Annual
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: June to September

This long-blooming annual species of coreopsis is a favorite in wildflower seed mixes because it grows quickly and tolerates most soil types. The yellow and red bi-color blooms add bright pops of color to any garden setting and are especially gorgeous in cut flower arrangements.

Photo by: Traveller70 / Shutterstock

MOONBEAM COREOPSIS
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’

Zones: 4-9
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and wide
Bloom time: June until frost

An enthusiastic bloomer, producing an abundance of creamy yellow flowers all summer long, rising above airy mounds of lacy foliage. The soft shade of yellow pairs nicely with just about any other flower color in the garden, especially rich purples and blues.

Photo by: William Cushman / Shutterstock

LANCELEAF COREOPSIS
Coreopsis lanceolata

Zones: 4-9
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: May to July

An early bloom time, attractive lance-shaped leaves, and fringed petals are the hallmarks of this perennial wildflower, which produces masses of bright yellow blooms from spring through midsummer. A great addition to a pollinator garden as an early-season food source for bees and butterflies.

Photo by: Kyaw Thiha / Shutterstock

‘EARLY SUNRISE’
Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Early Sunrise’

Zones: 4-9
Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring through late summer

This All-America Selections winner produces spectacular semi-double flowers that rival those of marigolds in their color intensity and fullness, but on a perennial plant that will return year after year. One of the earliest Coreopsis to bloom, usually starting in May.

Photo by: James Simmons / Flickr

‘NANA’
Coreopsis auriculata ‘Nana’

Zones: 4-9
Size: 6 to 9 inches tall, 8 to 10 inches wide
Bloom time: Early spring to late summer

This darling little dwarf tickseed, with lobed leaves that resemble tiny mouse ears, grows to a height of only 9 inches yet produces extra-large flowers up to 2 inches wide, held high on long, leafless stalks. Frilly tooth-edged petals add to the visual appeal. Use in containers, as a border plant, or to edge a sunny walkway.

WHAT TO PLANT WITH COREOPSIS and DESIGN IDEAS

Coreopsis are equally at home in formal and naturalized garden settings and are good companions with a wide array of other sun-loving perennials. Try some of these design ideas:

• Combine with purple coneflower, Shasta daisy, garden phlox, and yarrow for a colorful display in a cottage garden.
• Pair them with spiky flowers like speedwell, liatris, and salvia to add texture and visual interest. These and other flowers in the purple and blue color spectrum contrast beautifully with yellow coreopsis varieties.
• Create a meadow garden by planting with other native wildflowers and grasses such as Joe Pye weed, penstemon, black-eyed Susan, and Shenandoah switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’).
• In a pollinator garden, team them up with other bee-friendly and butterfly-friendly plants to attract a wide variety of beneficial insects.
• Use the ferny foliage of threadleaf coreopsis to soften the appearance of bold-leaved foliage plants.