Coreopsis is a Long Blooming Perennial

Coreopsis grows like a weed. In fact, its wild cousins fill the pastures and wayside ditches. The cultivated garden variety also likes the sun and is easy to please. The original plant has long lanky stems while the improved varieties are more compact though they still produce many flowers.

Coreopsis blooms from mid summer to fall.

The plant flowers for months from midsummer through fall. Golden yellow is the original color but there are some newer red varieties and pink varieties. It grows in clumps 30 to 40 inches tall, and has abundant daisy-like blooms two or three inches across. Some cultivated varieties are doubles; each head has twice the petals, giving it a less "weedy" appearance.

More good news is that coreopsis sprouts easily from seeds. They are also sold in garden centers in the spring growing in pots from four inches to one gallon in size. They can be planted in the fall or early spring. New plants should be set a foot apart. The clumps can be dug up and divided about every three years. Late fall or winter is the best time to divide.

The major advantage of coreopsis is its long bloom season and easy growing nature. The most serious drawback is its limited color range. It is also not suitable for shady gardens.

Moonbeam is a smaller, dainty type of coreopsis.

Thread leaf coreopsis, also called moonbeam coreopsis, is a smaller, bushier relative, about 18 inches tall, with numerous thin leaves and many small blooms. Dwarf eared coreopsis is even smaller, only six inches tall.

Butterflies and bees love coreopsis. The long blooming stems make fine cut flowers. Unfortunately, seeds dropped from the plant sprout everywhere the next year. Because of their shape and appearance, one of coreopsis common names is "tick-seed".

Coreopsis grows in USDA hardiness zones four through ten. It can survive winter temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Coreopsis loves full sun and needs at least five or six hours. It does well in poor or rich soils as long as it is well drained, particularly in winter months.　

Slugs are sometimes a problem but coreopsis is generally problem free and easy to grow. Any plant showing fungus or other diseases should be quickly removed to prevent spread of the disease. It is moderately drought resistant, especially after the first year.

Coreopsis will bloom longer and more abundantly if dead headed; spent flowers should be removed. However, the profusion of small blooms can make dead heading difficult. An easier solution is to simply wait until the first flush of bloom comes to an end and then sheer the entire plant back by one quarter. The stems are thin enough that scissors will work.

A true native of North America, the large blooming coreopsis has the scientific name of Coreopsis grandiflora. Dwarf coreopsis is C. auriculata, and moonbeam coreopsis is C.verticillata.