All About the Coreopsis Flower

The coreopsis flower is a member of the sunflower family that is also commonly called tickseed or calliopsis. The nickname of "tickseed" actually refers to the coreopsis seeds, which early gardeners in its native country of Greece likened to bugs in their appearance. Thankfully, its very attractive lovely yellow, burnt red, golden and maroon petals resemble nothing so much as a cross between a sunrise-loving pansy and a sun-loving sunflower, with size and shape falling somewhere in between the two. Coreopsis is a flower known to increase friendly garden visitors such as butterflies and birds, which are drawn to its bright colors and tasty seedpods. Learn more about caring for the coreopsis flower in your own home garden or landscape setting.

Preparing to Plant the Coreopsis Flower

The coreopsis flower prefers a bright, sunny location with a soil pH that ranges from neutral to alkaline and soil that contains extra sand, loam, and clay and is naturally moist with excellent drainage. The coreopsis is traditionally a perennial varietal but a few types of coreopsis are also annuals. Coreopsis flowers are easily grown from seed or young established plants.

Planting and Caring for the Coreopsis Flower

The coreopsis flower should be planted in spring and will bloom 60 days after installation if installed from seeds. Leave at least one foot between each young plant or seed. Once the bloom season has begun, it will be important to deadhead fading blossoms to encourage more blooms. Add fertilizer once or twice annually to encourage more lush growth and water as needed to keep the soil moist but a bit on the dry side. The coreopsis plant can fall prey to a variety of common garden pests and diseases, including aphids, beetles, leaf hoppers, nematodes, and fungal issues such as leaf spot, wilt, rust, mildew, and blights. The best treatment is commercial pesticides soaps or fungicide sprays.