This erect plant can reach a height of four feet, although most types are just a foot tall, with a spread of 12 to 36 inches.
It has wiry stalks that grow flowers above the leaves. Different types bloom at different times, but from early spring to late fall, you can count on this generous plant to produce a profusion of blooms.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are among the pollinators attracted to the blossoms.
Are tickseed invasive?
The National Garden Bureau, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the joys of home gardening, chooses one perennial, one annual, one bulb, and one edible plant to honor each year. It’s an excellent method to learn about a new plant or to learn more about one you already have.
The perennial coreopsis, sometimes known as tickseed, is the first of 2018’s four plants (Coreopsis). See 2018: Year of the Calibrachoa and 2018: Year of the Beet for details on two more 2018 winners.
Coreopsis is a genus of over 80 species that originated in the New World, with roughly 45 of them found in North America. Annuals and perennials, they are herbaceous plants that are generally small (rarely more than 2 1/2 feet/75 cm tall).
They have daisylike inflorescences that look like individual blooms but are actually compound flowers, as is typical of the Asteraceae family (sunflower family). They have a central disc of fertile florets surrounded by eight ray flowers (more in double and semi-double variations) and a serrated tip. The dominant flower color is yellow, with a reddish-brown halo on occasion.
The common name, tickseed, is derived from the Greek word coreopsis, which means “like a bug.” It gets its name from the bug-like appearance of the seeds of some former species, such as beggar-ticks, which have two projections that adhere to fur and clothing like ticks. Surprisingly, beggar ticks were long ago relegated to the genus Bidens. There are no “bug-like” seeds in any extant Coreopsis species!
Only a few species are cultivated, especially among the hardiest (the vast majority of species are tropical and cannot be grown in cooler climes except as annuals), but they nonetheless provide a wide range of options for our flower beds. Many coreopsis flowers continue to bloom throughout the summer, especially if deadheaded. Coreopsis has long been a favorite in gardens due to their prolific and long-lasting blooms… they also make great cut flowers.
Coreopsis are often meadow plants that thrive in full sun. They can take moderate shade, but prefer to be in direct sunlight. They adapt to all types of well-drained soils, and the most are drought-tolerant. Many species, however, rely on good drainage, particularly during the winter months. Clay soils are particularly troublesome. Many coreopsis thrive in raised beds because they provide improved drainage. Also, coreopsis prefers a soil that is not extremely fertile, as overly fertile soil can lead to weak stems that flop.
Pollinating insects (bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and others) enjoy coreopsis, and seed-eating birds frequent them in the fall and winter… if you don’t deadhead, of course!
From spreading beneath roots, rhizomatous types create masses of single stems. They’re the most hardy coreopsis, living for decades with little attention and being the most resistant to cold damp. They’re not usually invasive, but they may spread beyond their planting area if there are no plants to shade them out, necessitating control in some cases.
Clump-forming types have many stems that grow in tufts. They are usually short-lived in the garden, especially in soils that remain moist in the winter, frequently only surviving two or three years. You may, however, keep them alive for decades by creating new plants every two years from divisions or cuttings. As though to make up for their short lifespan, they are relatively simple to grow from seed, and many will bloom the first year from seed placed inside, which is a feat few perennials can achieve.
Annual variety, by definition, only live for one year. The majority of them survive by profuse self-sowing.
This coreopsis native to the southeastern United States stands out in a genus dominated by plants with narrow leaves by having trifoliate leaves that are relatively large, sometimes nearly spherical. The botanical (auriculata) and common names are derived from the two little leaflets at the base of the much larger center leaflet, which are supposed to resemble mouse ears.
The plant grows in a low rosette with little yellow flowers and evergreen leaves. It’s a long-lasting plant with short rhizomes that isn’t particularly invasive. It’s the first of the coreopsis to bloom, blossoming from spring to early summer because it’s a short-day plant (most others are long-day plants, with mid- to late-summer flowers).
The most popular mouse-ear coreopsis cultivar is ‘Nana,’ which grows to barely 10 in (25 cm) tall, but ‘Zamphir,’ which grows to 12-24 in × 12 in (30-60 cm x 30 cm) and has tubular ray blooms that resemble trumpets, is also extensively grown.
This coreopsis was once the most widely grown species in the genus (now C. verticillata), and most people just refer to it as coreopsis.
It’s a clump-forming plant that produces a plethora of green stems with narrow leaves. Lower leaves are simple, but those on flower stems have three to five lobes. The inflorescences are yellow orange in color, with a hint of reddish-brown at the base of the deeply serrated ray flowers. They range in size from 1 in to 2 in (2.5 cm to 6 cm) in diameter. It blooms all summer and into the fall, especially if you deadhead it (remove the faded flowers).
This species is one of the shortest-lived, very susceptible to powdery mildew and intolerant of damp winter conditions. Continue cuttings and divisions to keep it going. It also grows swiftly and easily from seed, blossoming the first summer after being grown from seed inside in March.
Large-flowered coreopsis can grow up to 36 inches (90 cm) in height in the wild, although practically all cultivated cultivars are much shorter, ranging from 16 inches to 24 inches (40 cm to 60 cm). The species and cultivars combine to form a cluster with a diameter of 12 in (30 cm). It’s a hardy plant that thrives in USDA and AgCan zones 3 and up.
Many hybrids are easy to grow from seed, including ‘Early Sunrise’ (double yellow, 16 in × 12 in/40 cm x 30 cm), which won an All-America Selections Award and a Fleuroselect Gold Medal in 1989.
Does coreopsis multiply?
Although perennial coreopsis are tough plants, they only last three to five years on average. A decrease in flowering indicates that it’s time to divide the plants (or start over from seed) in order to propagate them.
Do coreopsis plants spread?
Coreopsis grandiflora and coreopsis verticillata are both self-seeding and spread by rhizomes. The plants may need to be divided or replaced every 3 to 5 years in locations where coreopsis is perennial.
How does tickseed reproduce?
Learning how to grow coreopsis is also simple. Simply seed a prepared area of unamended soil in full sun in the spring. To ensure that coreopsis seeds sprout, lightly cover them with soil or perlite, or just press them into damp soil. Keep coreopsis seeds moist until they germinate, which takes around 21 days. Misting coreopsis seeds for moisture is one way to care for them. Planting coreopsis in succession will result in a large number of growing coreopsis.
Can tickseed be divided?
Tickseed flowers (Coreopsis spp.) thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Many kinds climb up to 3 feet tall and spread 2 feet wide in the summer, with daisy-like flowers. Butterflies are drawn to this herbaceous perennial in the yard. Overcrowding of flower clusters can be avoided by transplanting tickseed. Tickseed clones are created by dividing up the parent clumps. Dig up the tickseed clumps every two to three years, either in the fall after the plant has finished blooming or in the early spring before new growth begins.
How do you stop coreopsis from spreading?
After each use or between plants, disinfect pruning or cutting tools by immersing the cutting area of the instrument in rubbing alcohol or washing it off with a bleach solution. This washing aids in the prevention of disease transmission between the coreopsis and any other plants that the cutting tool may come into contact with.
Does tickseed come back every year?
Some coreopsis are perennial, meaning they live for more than a year, while others are annual, meaning they only live for a year.
When shopping for and selecting which coreopsis to plant, it’s critical to first determine if the desired plant is an annual or perennial in your location. In warmer climates, some plants are perennial, while in colder climes, they do not survive the winter.
In front of taller summer perennials like garden phlox, bee balm, or coneflowers, plant annual coreopsis. Annual coreopsis looks beautiful in pots on patios and balconies as well.
Do coreopsis grow back every year?
Perennial coreopsis are a hardy and dependable plant for adding color to your garden in the summer. They’re herbaceous perennials that die back in the winter and sprout back in the spring to provide color year after year.
Plant perennial coreopsis in the autumn or spring to allow them to establish before the main growth season, though they can also be planted in the summer as long as they are kept well watered. Depending on the size of the variety, space plants 40-50 cm apart.
Sow annual coreopsis outside where they will bloom, or in containers to plant out later in the spring. Plant tender coreopsis for borders and containers once the final frosts have passed. Place them in full sun or partial shade, with well-drained soil.
Coreopsis thrives in any fertile soil as long as it is well drained. Use a peat-free multi-purpose potting compost for potted plants.