Xela's Garden

Coreopsis 'Early Sunrise' (Tickseed) [V]

Genus: Coreopsis.

Species: Coreopsis grandiflora.

Planted 04.11 Vistabile lounge border

Bought 04.11 from Lewes Garden Centre @ £10 for 6 perennials [or £1.99 each]

They give continuity to planting schemes, make that vital link with autumn perennials, and provide something reliable to pick for the house.

The perennial coreopsis is ideal for the front of the border, especially if the dead flowers are sheared off after the first flush to provide a late summer boost.

Coreopsis acquired the colloquial name of "tickseed" because the seed looks like a bug or tick (koris - bug, opsis - like) but the seed is a far less prominent feature than the plant's (usually) golden daisy flowers from June or July onwards.

The colour is bright and just what is needed on glaringly sunny days, and they can hold their own in front of the showiest kniphofias, crocosmias, cannas and dahlias. What is more, in recent years, a number have been bred to flower in their first year from seed.

The two most popular species are Coreopsis verticillata and C. grandiflora, and there are also a dozen or so related garden-raised cultivars.

Coreopsis verticillata has divided leaves, so narrow as to be almost thread-like, and branched stems, about 2ft tall, which are topped by golden yellow flowers, which are very attractive to bees, from July to September. This is a reliable and long-lived perennial, with a daintiness that C. grandiflora lacks.

The most commonly grown cultivar is 'Moonbeam', which has very attractive, prolifically borne, lemon-yellow flowers and grows to about 20in tall.

'Grandiflora' has larger flowers on an upright-growing plant. There is also a compact variety, called 'Zagreb' with golden flowers, which is useful for a large container. The close relationship between coreopsis and bidens can be seen most clearly in 'Zagreb', with its ferny leaves and short habit.

Coreopsis grandiflora is a sturdier plant, with rather broader, strap-shaped, bright green leaves, and very golden flowers, up to 2½in across. It grows to about 2ft tall and is not generally long-lived. It is often represented in gardens by 'Mayfield Giant', which grows to 3ft tall, has a very long flowering season and is excellent for cutting. 'Astolat' has single, golden flowers with a brown blotch at the base of the petals.

Among those that will bloom in their first summer, there are the semi-double-flowered, 18in-tall 'Early Sunrise', the dwarf double, 'Sunray', and the single-flowered 'Heliot'. 'Early Sunrise' and 'Sunray' are similar, with large, bobble-head yellow flowers, while 'Heliot' is rather more sophisticated, having ragged-edged deep yellow petals, and a ring of mahogany-brown around the centre of the flower.

If you would prefer not to have golden yellow flowers, 'Limerock Ruby' is ruby red and C. rosea 'American Dream' is pink.
How to Grow:
Coreopsis should be planted in late spring. Coreopsis grandiflora likes a soil with some moisture in it, and a sunny aspect, while C. verticillata prefers a light, free-draining soil, preferably in sun.

These perennials flower best and longest if they are deadheaded: shear back the flower stems to side growths or even down to the base rosette in late July or August, and they will flower into the autumn. In late September, cut them right back again.

Propagation:
'Moonbeam', 'Astolat', 'Mayfield Giant' and other cultivars, which are variable if grown from seed, should be propagated either from basal cuttings or divided in spring.

The species can be grown from seed, of course, as can the first-year bloomers. If growing from seed you need to start these off under glass in February. Divide C. grandiflora and its cultivars every two or three years, otherwise you risk losing them in winter.
Good companions

Coreopsis verticillata is particularly well suited to a gravel garden planting, and will associate well with Stipa tenuissima and other grasses, as well as Californian poppies and furry-leaved verbascums. Coreopsis verticillata and 'Moonbeam' look good with the blue, summer-flowering nepetas, such as Nepeta nervosa, as well as blue or purple salvias, such as Salvia patens and Salvia 'Purple Majesty'.

The more robust-looking Coreopsis grandiflora and its varieties can hold their own among the brightest red and yellow crocosmias, brilliant orange and red kniphofia, and the bronze-red helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' or 'Rubinzwerg'.

[Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3349775/How-to-grow-Coreopsis.html ]

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