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For long-lasting color in the garden, there are few perennial plants easier to grow than coreopsis. Coreopsis loves sunny, hot conditions and will bloom its heart out through the middle of the hottest summers. The bright gold of native species of coreopsis has been altered by plant breeders into several muted and pastel shades that make coreopsis fit into any garden color scheme.

There are several native American species of coreopsis and many hybrids of the species. All are members of the daisy family and the flowers have the familiar daisy look. Some coreopsis flowers are single and some are double, ranging from one to two inches wide. Coreopsis grandiflora and Coreopsis lanceolata have long, lance-shaped leaves, and Coreopsis verticillata has fine, fernlike leaves. Most coreopsis colors are shades of yellow, although there are pink shades and at least one white coreopsis available. Some varieties have a contrasting color in the center.

The common name of Tickseed refers to the tiny seeds the flowers produce, which resemble ticks. Most varieties of coreopsis are perennials that are hardy from Zones 3 to 9. C. grandiflora and some of the hybrids using this species are only reliably hardy to Zone 7 and behave like biannuals instead of true perennials. Birds love the seeds, but if allowed to go to seed, coreopsis may spread through the garden.

Growing coreopsis
There are many varieties of coreopsis seed available to gardeners. Start the seeds indoors about 8 to10 weeks before your last frost in a cool (60 degrees) and bright place. Coreopsis seed needs light to germinate, so just press it lightly down on the seed-starting medium. The seed may germinate in as little as five days.