7 Coreopsis to Try in Your Garden
Like many other gardeners, my longing for spring has me thinking of flowers. The warm colors of Coreopsis skipping across my mind. Ready for the barren winter landscape to erupt in riotous explosions of yellow, gold, and red. Happy faces of Coreopsis announcing summer is here.
The National Garden Bureau has chosen 2018 to be the Year of the Coreopsis.
Coreopsis, whose common name is Tickseed, has 38 naturalized species in the United States. It is the state flower for both Florida and Mississippi.
Centuries before we thought this flower would be a superb addition to our gardens, the native flowers were used to create dyes. Native Americans would also boil Coreopsis down into teas before coffee was introduced.
Botanist chose to name Coreopsis after the seed instead of the cheery flower. The name is derived from the Greek words koris, meaning bed-bug, and opsis, which means view. So basically, Coreopsis means the seed looks like a bed-bug.
Despite that unappealing label, in the language of flowers, Coreopsis also means ‘always cheerful.’ This is what we’ll stick with since it’s much more appealing, and we’re thinking summertime happy thoughts!
Here are 7 Coreopsis to brighten your summer gardens and warm your winter thoughts.
Moonbeam Coreopsis & Zagreb Coreopsis
Photo Courtesy Walters Garden, Inc 
Photo Courtesy Walters Garden, Inc
These two Coreopsis are being lumped together because they are essentially oldies but goodies. If you already have Coreopsis in your garden – it’s probably one of these.
Moonbeam Coreopsis
- Height: 12-24 in.
- Spread: 18-24 in.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Drought Tolerant
Zagreb Coreopsis
- Height: 12 in.
- Spread: 18 in.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerant
Cruzin’ Broad Street Coreopsis
Crimson red flowers with orange-gold tips cover the compact, thread-leaf foliage from late spring until frost. Deer and rabbit may leave this Coreopsis alone, but it will be frequented by bees and butterflies.
- Height: 15-18 in.
- Spread: 18 in.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerant
Mercury Rising Big Bang™ Coreopsis
Who doesn’t love these velvety wine-red blooms with their bright yellow centers? This variety of Coreopsis may be on the deer-resistant list but is loved by pollinators and butterflies. The soft and narrow foliage is mildew-resistant.
- Height: 15-18 in.
- Spread: 24-36 in.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Full Sun
Lil’ Bang™ Daybreak Coreopsis
Red flowers with yellow tips and golden centers stand up above this compact plant. Daybreak will bloom throughout the summer if the spent blooms are removed.
- Height: 6-10 in.
- Spread: 18 in.
- Full Sun
Lil’ Bang™ Red Elf Coreopsis
Satiny red blooms with golden centers absolutely cover this compact plant from summer to fall. The small stature of Lil’ Bang™ Red Elf makes it the perfect perennial for small gardens or containers.
- Height: 8-12 in.
- Spread: 12-18 in.
- Full Sun
Uptick™ Red & Yellow Coreopsis
Impressive 3″ yellow flowers with a dark red eye bloom on this compact plant from May until September. This drought-tolerant perennial is pollinator-friendly and adored by butterflies.
- Height: 12-14 in.
- Spread: 12-14 in.
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerant
Presto Coreopsis
Ruffled yellow blooms measure 2 to 2 1/2 inches in size and cover this dwarf plant. Butterflies and bees are attracted to this petite ray of sunshine. When the spent blooms are removed, Presto Coreopsis will bloom from summer through fall.
- Height: 6-8 in.
- Spread: 6-8 in.
- Full Sun to Partial Sun
