Growing Coreopsis (Tickseed) – Long-Blooming Perennial

Coreopsis (Tickseed) Complete Guide

Pronunciation: ko-ree-op'sis

Merry daisies in yellow, pink, white with burgundy, salmon. Newer colors expand palette. Masses of flowers long periods, especially with consistent deadheading. Drought-tolerant perennials, excellent for cutting, easy culture. Varieties for front, middle, back of border; native to Americas, at home in wildflower gardens and meadows.

Light and Watering

Full sun best, especially in well-drained soils. Water during drought; established plants very drought-tolerant.

Fertilizer, Soil, and pH

Not fussy about soil; blooms exuberantly in variety of conditions. Well-drained soils best, especially in winter. Coreopsis rosea prefers evenly moist soil (may run a bit wild). Fertilize lightly once in spring with balanced granular; too much causes spindly growth.

Pests and Diseases

Healthy plants under good culture rarely bothered. Wash off light aphid infestations with forceful water spray. Diseases rare in well-drained soils; wet soils cause crown rot.

Companions

Butterfly delphinium (Delphinium grandiflorum) or other short delphiniums complement yellow coreopsis. Alliums, daylilies, coneflowers also lovely.

Reflowering

Daily deadheading yields nearly continuous bloom. Shear back by a few inches as flowering slows in late July for attractive plant and possible autumn rebloom.

Dividing/Transplanting

Divide every 3 years in spring or early fall to maintain vigor. Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' arrives as tangle of roots/stems—dig wide shallow hole, set horizontally, cover with 1 inch soil; gravity sorts roots down, shoots up.

End-of-Season Care

Don't prune all the way back—standing stems protect crowns. 'Moonbeam' benefits from salt hay or evergreen bough mulch.

Calendar of Care

Early Spring: Light granular 10-10-10 or compost when new growth appears. Water new plants if spring rains sporadic. Divide/transplant if desired.

Summer: Deadhead daily for prolonged bloom. Shear back ¼–½ for attractive form and possible autumn rebloom.

Fall: Divide/transplant if needed. Don't prune all the way back—leave stems 6–8 inches to protect crowns. Mulch 'Moonbeam' with salt hay or evergreen boughs.