Coreopsis - The Ultimate Growing Guide from Proven Winners®
Grow this flowering native plant for long-lasting summer color and attracting pollinators to your yard
See all Proven Winners® coreopsis varieties
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) is a flowering ornamental plant with finely textured or deeply cut foliage that provides an attractive backdrop to the cheerful daisy-like flowers. Also known as tickseed or threadleaf coreopsis, this resilient plant is native to North American prairies and meadows. Garden varieties come in a wide range of flower colors including yellow, white, red, orange, purple and pink. There are both perennial and annual varieties, with a long bloom time from summer into fall.
When given the right growing conditions, coreopsis is virtually carefree and is tolerant of heat, drought and poor soils. Deer tend to leave coreopsis plants alone. This versatile ornamental plant can be used in beds, mass plantings, borders and containers. The flowers are a rich nectar source for insect pollinators, while the seeds provide food for songbirds. Here’s how to grow, plant, and use this plant in your yard.
COREOPSIS CARE & PLANTING
Follow these tips on how to grow and care for coreopsis:
How to plant: Choose a site with full sun and well-drained soils. Plant in early spring after all danger of frost is past in your area. Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Avoid placing coreopsis plants too close together, as this can result in mildew or other diseases from poor air circulation.
- Loosen soil in the planting area and lightly amend soil as needed to improve drainage.
- Remove plant from its nursery container and tease out roots if potbound.
- Dig a hole the same depth and slightly wider than the root ball.
- Place plant in the hole so the crown of the plant is level with the surrounding soil.
- Fill in the hole with soil and tamp down gently to remove air pockets.
- Water plants regularly until established.
Soil: Coreopsis is tolerant of lean or poor soils and performs best in average, well-drained soil. Poor drainage can lead to root rot. Soil that is too rich may result in plants putting energy into foliage production rather than flowers. When planting in pots, use a high quality all-purpose potting mix.
Watering: When caring for tickseed, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot and other diseases. Water early in the day to allow foliage to dry out, which will help prevent moisture-related diseases. Provide regular water during prolonged heat and dry spells. Plants are drought tolerant once established.
Fertilizing: Coreopsis plants need little or no fertilizer when planted in average soil. Over-fertilizing may result in fewer flowers. Improve soil in spring with a small amount of compost to provide slow-release nutrients through the growing season.
Pruning: Cut or pinch off spent flowers weekly to encourage new flower buds. Plants can be sheared back by up to half their size when they are finished blooming in mid-to-late summer to encourage a new flush of flowers.
Sean and Allison McManus of Spoken Garden share their tips on cutting back coreopsis and other flowering plants for one last burst of fall color.
TRY THESE PROVEN WINNERS® VARIETIES
These Proven Winner varieties offer long-lasting color and stunning beauty. Try some of these varieties of coreopsis in your landscape:
 | Designer Threads™ ‘Scarlet Ribbons’ Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) produces velvety maroon-red flowers with soft yellow centers. Plants grow up to 18 inches tall and are prolific bloomers throughout the summer. Combine with yellow flowers for eye-popping contrast.
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 | Designer Threads™ ‘Golden Needles’ Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) is a variety with rich golden-yellow flower petals and a dark maroon center for stunning contrast. The finely textured thread-like foliage provides a soft backdrop to the large, flat-petaled blooms.
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 | Designer Threads™ ‘Creamy Calico’ Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) produces long-blooming bicolored flowers with broad, defined maroon eyes and creamy-yellow petal tips. A profusion of blooms persists from early summer to late summer on mildew-resistant plants.
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 | Designer Threads™ ‘Heartstrings’ Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) has needle-like foliage that provides attractive texture even when plants are not in flower. The blooms have a dark maroon center with white flower tips streaked with maroon. Combine with yellow or blue colors for a pop of contrast.
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COREOPSIS FAQs
How do you keep coreopsis blooming all summer?
Plant coreopsis in a site that receives full sun. Too much shade can result in fewer blooms. Provide regular water and allow soil to dry out in-between watering. Pinch off spent tickseed flower heads and lightly shear plants when they have finished blooming to promote new flower buds.
Do you cut back coreopsis in the fall?
In colder climates, perennial coreopsis varieties can be cut back and mulched to provide winter protection. Cut back plants to 6 inches above the ground after the first frost. Mulch around the crown with several inches of leaves or other organic matter to insulate the roots. In milder climates, plants can be left unpruned for winter interest and to provide food for songbirds and other wildlife.
Does coreopsis spread?
Coreopsis plants spread through underground rhizomes and can also self-sow from seed. Some varieties spread or self-sow more prolifically than others. Climate is also a factor.
Do tickseed plants attract ticks?
Tickseed is named for the tiny rounded black seeds that resemble tick insects. The plants do not attract or harbor ticks.
Do I need to deadhead tickseed?
For the best flowering, tickseed can be deadheaded to encourage new flower buds. Plants that are not deadheaded will produce fewer flowers and go out of bloom more quickly. When deadheading, trim off spent flowers weekly, or as they occur.
HOW TO USE COREOPSIS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE
When given the right growing conditions, coreopsis makes a low-maintenance addition to sunny garden areas. Try some of these ideas on how to use tickseed in your landscape:
- Plant tickseed in a mixed border in combination with trees, shrubs and perennials with similar growing needs of full sun and well-drained soil.
- Mass coreopsis in a bed for long-lasting color all summer long.
- Include threadleaf coreopsis as part of a fire-resistant landscape. Find more fire-resistant plants.
- Use coreopsis alongside other tough perennials such as red hot poker plant, salvia and sedum to add color to a curbside strip.
- Include threadleaf coreopsis in a deer-resistant landscape alongside other deer-resistant plants with similar growing needs. Find more deer-resistant plants.
- Plant coreopsis in a container by itself as a focal point, or in combination with other plants with similar growing needs.
- Adorn cottage gardens with tickseed and other classic cottage-style plants such as bee balm, catmint, hollyhock, lavender, salvia, Shasta daisy, veronica and yarrow.
- Include coreopsis in a pollinator garden to attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects. Stacy Ling of Bricks ’n Blooms shares her favorite tips on how to use coreopsis in a pollinator-friendly garden (read article).
- Use tickseed in mass plantings along a slope or hillside to help stem erosion and provide summer-long color.
- Edge a patio or pathway with a dwarf variety for bright summer color.
- Grow in a rock garden with other plants with similar growing needs such as sedum, ice plant, sedges and creeping thyme to soften hardscape and provide low-maintenance color.
- Add coreopsis to a native plant border or meadow garden alongside other plants such as black-eyed Susan, blanket flower, coneflower and ornamental grasses.
Stacy Ling shares her thoughts on why threadleaf coreopsis belongs in your garden (view story).
COREOPSIS COMPANION PLANTS
Choose companion plants that will thrive in the same growing conditions of full sun, average well-draining soil and moderate moisture.
Plant coreopsis in a native landscape alongside:
- Mega Millions® black-eyed Susan
- ‘Leading Lady Razzberry’ bee balm
- Color Coded® ‘Yellow My Darling’ coneflower
- Meant to Bee® ‘Royal Raspberry’ anise hyssop
Use in a summer border with plants that bloom at the same time such as:
- Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Ruby Spider’ daylily
- Southern Blaze™ Blueberry phlox
- Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta daisy
- Magic Show® ‘Ever After’ spike speedwell
Create a pollinator garden using coreopsis and other pollinator-friendly plants including:
Stacy Ling shares her favorite perennial companion plants for coreopsis (view story).
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