Growing coreopsis flower in the garden will advantage you greatly. For starters, the flowers have a long period of blooming.
More importantly, this hardy flower plant doesn’t need a lot of maintenance or special care.
You can easily grow coreopsis on your own, but first, let’s get to know this flower better!
Table of Contents
1. About Coreopsis: Facts and Characteristics
Coreopsis is a native flowery plant of North and South America. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, along with daisy, dandelion, and marigold.
In its origin countries, wild coreopsis flowers commonly grow in prairie or woodland.
As a result, the plant is strong enough to bear any season and weather in different locations, including in your own flower garden.
Commonly known as tickseed, coreopsis is characterized by tall stems and thin flower petals that grow in clump formation.
At a glance, this flower has a slight resemblance to daisies with its small petals and noticeable center.
However, the colors of coreopsis petals are brighter. Coreopsis flowers come in various colors, including yellow, red, white, and pink.
The flower center usually has contrast or brighter shades than its petals. Under certain growing conditions, most varieties of coreopsis can reach up the height of 10-18 inches tall while spreading for 12-24 inches.
2. Some Varieties of Coreopsis
According to the flower identification, coreopsis has more than thirty varieties which spread largely around the globe.
Coreopsis varieties differ in many things, from the color of its flower petals to the texture of the leaves.
The following varieties are some of the most popular ones that you can grow in the flower garden.
- Coreopsis verticillata, known as thread leaf coreopsis, has delicate flowers and ferny leaves. The flower petals usually come in red shades.
- Coreopsis grandiflora, most noticeable for its bright yellow coreopsis petals. This variety usually blooms throughout the summer.
- Coreopsis grandiflora “Golden Shower”, a tall variety of Coreopsis grandiflora. Featuring bright yellow flowers, this cultivar can grow up to 18-36 inches tall.
- Coreopsis rosea, characterized by its pink flowers and textured leaves. In terms of flower structure, this variety has similar characteristics to daisies.
- Coreopsis rosea “Nana”, a sub-variety of Coreopsis rosea that features purplish pink petals. Because it only grows to eight inches tall, this variety is also known as dwarf coreopsis.
3. Coreopsis Meaning and Symbolism
Etymologically, the word ‘coreopsis’ comes from the combination of two Greek nouns: koris which means bedbug and opsis which is translated as view or sight.
In spite of its literal meaning, coreopsis flower is not related to any insect or discomfort feeling.
Instead, this flower plant produces beautiful blooms that will easily brighten up everyone’s mood.
Coreopsis flower meaning is mainly associated with cheerfulness. The flower is often used to symbolize love and happiness.
Its presence can also bring a happy and positive vibe to the people around it.
For this reason, you can use a fresh bouquet of coreopsis to cheer up friends, family, or your loved ones.
4. Coreopsis Growing Requirements
The following information is what you need to know regarding growing requirements of coreopsis.
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Soil Requirements
There is no special soil requirement for coreopsis. This flowery plant can grow in any soil regardless of its pH level or quality.
Sandy, clay, even loamy soil is all good for your coreopsis plant. However, choosing for moist and well-draining soil will help you grow the flowers better.
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Light Requirements
Coreopsis prefers to bloom in full sun, but it can also adapt to the locations with partial shade.
If you grow coreopsis in the area with a high level of heat and dryness, expose this flowery plant under the afternoon shade instead of morning sunlight.
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Coreopsis Seeding and Germination
Coreopsis is grown from seeds. You can start ahead of time by growing the seeds indoor 4-6 weeks before the spring comes.
Alternatively, the seeds can be planted directly on the ground in early spring.
The latter choice is considered more practical, but its blooming season might be a little late than indoor germination.
5. Caring for Coreopsis Flower
Coreopsis care doesn’t require a lot of efforts. This flowery plant is tolerant of drought, so regular watering is not necessary.
You only need to water the flowers occasionally when the soil looks dry. Coreopsis doesn’t need fertilizer either.
In fact, giving fertilizer to coreopsis plant during its growing state may limit the flower production.
For this reason, leaving the flowers bloom as they like is the best thing you can do to keep them happy and healthy.
As the stems grow taller, some varieties of coreopsis may need to be staked in order to keep the plant upright and attractive.
Moreover, during the coreopsis bloom time which runs from early summer to fall, you need to deadhead the spent flowers.
By doing so, the plant can produce more blooms that will last for a longer time.
Coreopsis plant is susceptible to aster yellow, a common bacteria-caused disease which attacks most flower species in the Asteraceae family.
The disease will cause the plant to stunt while the leaves and flowers will turn yellow.
To prevent this disease from attacking your lovely coreopsis, you can spray some insecticidal soap on the leaves every month or so.
6. Recommended Garden Setting for Coreopsis
In the common garden setting, coreopsis is usually planted in the border. This arrangement is due to the flower’s long period of blooming.
When they are used as the flower border, coreopsis blooms can fill the space throughout the seasons, from summer to fall.
Moreover, coreopsis garden setting can be arranged according to its varieties.
Coreopsis grandiflora, for instance, is an excellent choice for a cottage-style garden.
This variety is also a perfect match for other woodland blooms, such as Gaillardia and coneflowers.
Another variety, Coreopsis verticillata, works well with flowers in blue or purple shades, including iris, salvia, and liatris.
That’s all what you need to know about coreopsis flower, including the characteristics, meaning, as well as planting and care guide.
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Seeing how easy it is to grow and care for this plant, you should put coreopsis on the top of the list when looking for a new addition to your flower garden.
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