Coreopsis: planting & care

With brilliant yellow flowers, coreopsis is a beautiful addition to any perennial border. The plant makes an excellent showpiece, especially in cottage gardens but also as potted plants.

Coreopsis is also called caliopsis. With its long-lasting, lush blooms, it not only captivates us humans: bees and other insects also benefit from it. Learn more about the properties, proper planting and care of this undemanding bedding plant below.

Coreopsis: origin and properties

Coreopsis is also known as tickseed. It is native to parts of South America and the dry prairies and forests of North America. The genus includes about 115 species and is classified in the daisy family (Asteraceae).

The plant is known for its bright yellow flowers, which it bears from June to September or October, but it now comes in several other colour variations. The flowers can be double or unfilled, shining in white, orange, pink or red.

The growth height of the plants also varies greatly from species to species: some grow to a height of about 20 to 60 cm, while others even reach heights of up to two metres. The growth habit ranges from densely bushy and herbaceous to long-stalked.

Tip: Even the Coreopsis species, whose flowers are on long stems, are excellent for use as durable cut flowers.

Leaf shapes within the genus are also highly variable, for example lanceolate, elliptic, trifoliate or pinnate. They are usually medium to dark green in colour and alternate or opposite in arrangement.

Are coreopsis perennial? For the most part, coreopsis is a short-lived perennial whose life span can be extended somewhat by optimal site conditions. Regular propagation will keep the flowers in the garden permanently. However, there is also the annual coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria).

Are coreopsis bee-friendly? The pollen and nectar values of the flowering plant are only moderate, so it is not particularly bee-friendly. But at least its flowers provide a source of food for a long time.

Planting coreopsis

Although tickseed is quite unpretentious, depending on the species, there are certain sites where it thrives very well. Furthermore, there are a few things to consider when sowing as well as planting.

The right location

What most species of coreopsis have in common is the need for a sunny, non-accumulating site. These light and heat-loving plants are particularly comfortable in light, nitrogen-rich soils that are dry in summer. Most species are best planted in small groups but there are species that prefer to be alone or others that are in larger groups. The preferred habitats range from beds to open spaces and rock gardens to woody edges. For most species, the soil should be fresh. So, in the end, you always have to find out about the particular Coreopsis species before you buy.

Coreopsis lanceolata is best suited for pots because of its limited growth height. Smaller species can even be cultivated in window boxes on a south or southwest balcony. The substrate used here should be a permeable, nutrient-rich potted plant soil, which should be mixed with 1/3 expanded clay or another structural material for better drainage. Our Plantura Organic Flower Compost is very suitable for this purpose because it is already enriched with quality compost and organic fertiliser, which meet the nutrient needs of the plant.

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Sowing coreopsis

Propagating the flowers is worthwhile, especially the more short-lived species. Below you will learn how to proceed and when is the right time.

• Time: under glass/indoors from March; sow outdoors from the end of April.
• Fill the planter with sowing soil.
• Cover seeds only with a little soil or simply press lightly.
• Keep soil evenly moist and place in a bright place.
• Keep temperatures for germination around 20 °C, then place in a cooler place.
• Note: some species such as Coreopsis major, Coreopsis tripteris and Coreopsis palmata require cold stratification. This is the treatment of seeds with a cold stimulus, which interrupts dormancy.

Tip: Coreopsis can be propagated not only by sowing, but also by division and cuttings.

Procedure for planting

From mid-May, you can now put your seedlings in the ground. To do this, dig the planting hole about 1.5 times the volume of the root ball in a sunny place. If the soil is rather lean, it is best to mix some compost into the site right away. For heavy, compacted soils, be sure to subsoil sand or similar to increase permeability. Place the plant back in the ground, just as deep as before in the plant pot.
If the gregariousness of your chosen species allows for group planting, be sure to provide adequate plant spacing. Lower-lying specimens such as Coreopsis lancelota or Coreopsis verticillata are happy with a spacing of 35 cm, while Coreopsis tripteris prefers to stand alone and requires a spacing of about 120 cm. Finally, do not forget to press down and water the soil generously.

Combining coreopsis: The best way to combine coreopsis is with other perennials that have similar requirements, which also feel comfortable in a loose, nutrient-rich bed and are classified in the same living areas. Blanket flowers (Gaillardia), sundresses (Echinacea), Indian nettles (Monarda), Catmint (Nepeta) and sunflower (Helenium) are suitable for this purpose.

Coreopsis care: pruning and more

The plant is a low maintenance beauty when planted in the right location.

Watering and fertilising

Since coreopsis feels comfortable in summer-dry locations, it also has no problem with intermittent dry periods. However, as a rule, the soil should be rather fresh, so occasional watering during dry periods is conducive to normal growth. If the plant is in a pot, watering should be more frequent.

The high nutrient requirements of tickseeds can be met with a slow-release fertiliser in granular form. Our Plantura Flower Food with a particularly high content of organic matter is suitable here. This provides a slow-flowing release, resulting in stable, hardy plants. Fertilise in the spring only so as not to jeopardise the frost-hardiness of your coreopsis.

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Pruning coreopsis

Some species have repeat-flowering behaviour, which means that after the first flowering, a second crop of flowers is encouraged by pruning. After the end of the flowering period, pruning can be carried out and a cover of foliage or twigs can be applied for overwintering. Tickseed is considered to have a winter hardiness down to at least – 17 °C, so it is sufficiently frost-hardy.

Another important maintenance measure is the division of the coreopsis in spring, which is recommended mainly because of the short lifespan of the individuals. This will always give you new plants that can be planted elsewhere.

Diseases and pests

One disease that occasionally plagues the coreopsis is powdery mildew, which spreads rapidly in summer during cool nights. Also, you may want to think about slug protection on your plants, as they, like aphids (Aphididae), like to pay the coreopsis a visit.

Is coreopsis poisonous?

The plant is not poisonous and is therefore completely harmless to humans and animals. One species, namely Coreopsis tinctoria, is even said to have a health-promoting effect. In North America, Europe and Asia, the plant was considered a traditional medicine for a long time. The flowers were boiled to make a drink, and the roots were steeped in a tea that was supposed to help with diarrhoea and stomach aches.
However, the main use of the plant was its flower for dyeing fabrics.

Another plant that also has a historical history as a dyer plant is safflower (Carthamus tinctorius). It would not only be a good neighbour for coreopsis, but is itself an excellent and unusually durable cut flower.