Coreopsis Care: Tips on Growing Coreopsis Flowers

6 Min Read

Coreopsis is a very versatile plant family that may be used in almost any garden situation. Coreopsis, with its bright and cheerful small blooms, may make great companion plants for decorative grasses and other robust annuals and perennials, especially in pots.

The Coreopsis is low-maintenance perennials with daisy-like blooms that thrive in the sun. Because of the odd structure of its seed capsules, Coreopsis is also known as tickseed.

This Coreopsis plant offers several advantages. It’s popular because of its bright, long-lasting blooms. Birds enjoy it because of the wonderful seeds it gives. Its rich nectar is enjoyed by butterflies and other pollinators.

Coreopsis

The Coreopsis plant is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include calliopsis and tickseed, a name share with various other plants. These North American native plants are drought resilient, long flowering, and thrive in poor soil.

Coreopsis is derive from a combination of two Greek words “koris,” which means “bedbug,” and “opsis,” which means “view.” Coreopsis is a Hardy Yellow Flower that blooms for a long period. It attracts a slew of pollinators to garden such as bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds.

Garden Superstar” would be a title for this stunning plant, which blooms all summer long with bright, daisy-like blossoms, thriving in blistering heat and sunlight. Calliopsis types produce daisy-like yellow, red, orange, pink, maroon, and violet blooms.

Despite an unattractive name that describes the look of its seeds rather than the beauty of its flowers, calliopsis has become most popular perennial garden plants, value  for its lengthy bloom season and fuss-free nature.

Coreopsis Plant Overview

  • Common Name: Coreopsis, tickseed, calliopsis
  • Botanical Name: Coreopsis spp.
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Plant Type: Perennial, annual
  • Mature Size: 2–4 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Sandy, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Neutral to acidic
  • Bloom Time: Summer, fall
  • Flower Color: Red, orange, yellow, pink, white
  • Native Area: North America, Central America, South America
  • Types of Coreopsis Plant

    Coreopsis comes in Several Types, including annuals and perennials. There are dozens of calliopsis species and varieties, which largely differ in appearance rather than care. Coreopsis appears in several varieties, which include:

    Lobed or mouse-eared coreopsis (C. auriculata): This plant has clusters of orange-yellow, oval-shaped leaves. It can grow to be two to three feet tall.

    Large-flowered coreopsis (C. grandiflora): These ‘Early Sunrise’ and ‘Jethro Tull’ are large-flower cultivars with fluted petals densely packed to give a deeper yellow core. The blooms have long, robust stalks that withstand wind well.

    Lanceleaf coreopsis (C. lanceolata): This is the most common variety of coreopsis. Its daisy-like bloom thrives in sandy soil and direct sunshine. The plant blooms from spring through summer and has a stiff, thin stem.

    Pink coreopsis (C. rosea): This type of coreopsis features pink flowers. It has a leng bloom season that lasts until late summer, with milder bloom flushes lasting until frost.

    Tall coreopsis (C. tripteris): The tall coreopsis is the tallest options available, growing from five to eight feet tall and developing clear, yellow flowers from summer to early fall.

    How To Grow Coreopsis Plant

    The Coreopsis is robust and reliable plants for adding color to garden in the summer. They are grassy perennials that die back in the winter and re-grow in the spring to provide color yearly.

    This Plant is perennial calliopsis in the fall or spring to let them to establish before the main growth season, however plants can be planted in the summer as long as they are watered until established.

    Many coreopsis varieties may be grown from seed and often self-seed in garden. Sow seeds six to eight weeks before the expected last frost date in area after the last frost date.

    Plant the seeds about 1/2-inch deep in moist, warm soil. Seedlings should appear in two to three weeks, at which point move them to a sunny window and maintain the soil moist.

    Indoor seedlings must be slowly acclimatized to the outdoors by placing them outside for long durations per day for about a week. They are then ready to enter the garden.

    Propagation

    The Perennial Coreopsis is tough plants that usually live for three to five years. A decrease in flowering signals that it is time to divide the plants in order to propagate them. Plant split is best done in the spring or early fall as below:

    • Perennial calliopsis might be plucked, split, and replanted in early spring if they are at least several years old and have produced good-sized clumps.
    • To begin, gently dig up a mature plant clump, leaving the roots as intact as possible.
    • Split the clump into smaller portions with a pointed trowel, making that each section has several healthy roots.
    • Replant the parts in a suitable growing site. Water the plants till they are established and exhibit visible signs of growth, which might take several weeks.
    • How To Get Coreopsis to Bloom

      Planting the flowers anywhere the plant receives enough of light is one of the most critical things in ensuring coreopsis blooms every season.

      If plant is struggling to blossom, it might be due to more shadow. If garden lacks six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily, put calliopsis in a container and move it over the grass to “chase” the light.

      It is vital to note that coreopsis does not require fertilization. If it appears that calliopsis may benefit from a boost, probably add organic matter to the soil instead. Also, removing the spent blooms might encourage the plant to produce buds.

      Coreopsis Care

      The Coreopsis plants don’t require much care when grown in their preferred environment. Select a planting site that gets lots of sun and has good soil drainage.

      Annual calliopsis in meadow mixes may require protection while the plants are young. Watering may be required during long dry times, especially when plants are young.

      Watering Coreopsis in pots for summer should be done daily to keep the compost evenly moist. Starting in late summer, feed every two weeks with a potash-rich liquid fertilizer.

      Also, don’t forget to account for the mature size of species when planting, leave space around plant for air circulation. The taller calliopsis varieties might need staking as they mature.

      Coreopsis is in pots benefit from regular removal of wasted flowers to maintain the plants’ shape and promote blooms. Perennials can be deadheaded, but leaving the heads on offers food for seed-eating birds such as finches.

      Soil and Fertilizer

      These plants grow in well-draining loamy or sandy soil with a pH that is close to neutral. Most coreopsis cultivars are relatively easy to cultivate and aren’t fussy about soil quality or pH as long as they aren’t waterlogged. Compost must be added to heavy, damp clay soils to aid drainage. Fertilization is usually unnecessary for calliopsis plants unless the soil is really poor. Excessive fertilizer might actually stimulate excessive leaf growth at the expense of the plant’s ability to blossom. Mix a little compost into the soil at the start of spring to give plants a boost.

      Light and Water

      These Coreopsis plants thrive in full sun, which implies at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight on most days. They can also thrive in partial light, but the plants will be lankier and less flowering. In hotter areas, some midday shade is appreciated. To keep the soil equally moist, new calliopsis plants require regular watering until they are established. They will bloom profusely with regular watering. When the soil is dry about an inch below, water deeply. Watering in the early morning hours permits the leaves to dry out over the day.

      Temperature and Humidity

      Temperatures between 70 and 80 degree F during the day and 50 to 60 degrees F. night are ideal for Coreopsis plants. Having said that, different coreopsis species have different levels of cold tolerance. High humidity levels are usually not a concern for these plants as long as they have proper air circulation and proper watering and drainage.

      Pests and Diseases

      The Coreopsis plants grow without incident for the most part. However, during wet seasons, they may become prey to snails and slugs, as well as fungal infections. Try to enhance your plant’s habitat before using pesticides and fungicides. Make sure it has lots of air circulation to keep pests and fungi at bay. Also, take note of whether it receives adequate sunlight. Overgrown clumps that aren’t receiving enough air or light should be divided.

      Facts about Coreopsis Plants

      • The common name tickseed comes from the fact that the seeds resemble parasite ticks! One end is spiky, while the other likes a tiny head.
      • Coreopsis has fine-texture, showy, lacy, delicate, or lobed green leaves. On the stem, the leaves are placed in opposite ways.
      • Coreopsis has the official state flower of Florida, USA, since 1991. These flowers are only utilized for roadside plantings and highway beautification schemes in Florida.
      • Coreopsis means “always cheery” in the Flower Language.
      • Because of its ability to quickly spread and form large, brightly colored ground covers, Coreopsis is often planted as a bedding or border plant in gardens. It is also usually grown in pots.
      • Hope you enjoyed reading the Planting guide of Coreopsis. If you think we missed something or have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments section below.

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