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Coreopsis
Coreopsis
Also called tickseed
Coreopsis blooms from June through September.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Coreopsis
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–9. Expect it to reach about 24 in tall and 20 in wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years (not yet checked).
No toxicity note is on file for Coreopsis. That is not a clearance: check its safety for people and pets before planting.
What was checked
Mature height and spread, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not, and each fact above says which. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Coreopsis
Plant Coreopsis in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. In zone 6, the middle of its hardy zones 4 to 9, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 6, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 6 in March. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Coreopsis get?
24 intall5 ft 7 inan adult20 inwideSee Coreopsis in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Coreopsis
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Coreopsis about 20 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Coreopsis to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Coreopsis' height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags were checked against 11 published sources on July 29, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- Missouri Botanical GardenPlant Finder, Coreopsis verticillataheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionGardener Plant Toolbox, Coreopsis grandifloraheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Clemson Home and Garden Information CenterClemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Centerheight, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Iowa State University ExtensionYard and Gardenheight, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterCoreopsis lanceolataheight, sun and trait tags
- University of Georgia ExtensionUniversity of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Bulletin B944 Flowering P...height, sun and trait tags
- University of Illinois ExtensionFlowers: Tickseedheight, hardiness zones and sun
- American MeadowsAll About Coreopsisheight and trait tags
- Proven WinnersHow to Grow Coreopsissun and trait tags
- Mississippi State University ExtensionServicetrait tags
- University of Florida IFASExtension, Gardening Solutionstrait tags
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
Comes in 11 varieties across 4 colors
Same genus, similar care - pick the color you are growing.
- Crème Brûlée
- Early Sunrise
- Jethro Tull
- Mercury Rising
- Moonbeam
- Pink Sapphire
- Pumpkin Pie
- Red Satin
- Route 66
- Sienna Sunset
- Zagreb
Compare every variety in the Coreopsis group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coreopsisthis page | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 24 in × 20 in |
| Crème Brûlée | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 24 in × 24 in |
| Early Sunrise | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 20 in × 20 in |
| Jethro Tull | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 16 in × 16 in |
| Mercury Rising | Red | Jun–Sep | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 16 in × 16 in |
| Moonbeam | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 3–9 | Full sun | 20 in × 20 in |
| Pink Sapphire | Pink | Jun–Sep | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 14 in × 16 in |
| Pumpkin Pie | Orange | Jun–Sep | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 16 in × 16 in |
| Red Satin | Red | Jun–Sep | Zones 4–9 | Full sun | 20 in × 16 in |
| Route 66 | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 24 in × 20 in |
| Sienna Sunset | Orange | Jun–Sep | Zones 5–9 | Full sun | 16 in × 16 in |
| Zagreb | Yellow | Jun–Sep | Zones 3–9 | Full sun | 16 in × 16 in |
Good to know about Coreopsis
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
The showy color cultivars can feed pollinators less well than the plain species. For a pollinator garden, choose the straight species or a close selection. per Xerces
Lifespan varies by species
Big-flowered types (large-flower, lanceleaf, downy) are short-lived: divide every 2 to 3 years or let some self-seed. Threadleaf is a long-lived, reliable clump. per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
Shear for a fall rebloom
Deadhead through summer to prolong bloom, then shear the whole plant back after the first flush for a strong fall rebloom and less self-seeding. per NC State
Wants lean, well-drained soil
Prefers lean, well-drained ground, even poor sandy or rocky soil. Rich, moist soil makes it sprawl and flop; wet, poorly drained soil invites crown rot. per NC State
Deer and rabbit resistant
Reported resistant to deer, and to rabbits for threadleaf types; very hungry wildlife may still sample it. per NC State
Powdery mildew, usually cosmetic
Generally trouble-free. Powdery mildew is the main issue, worst on threadleaf and hybrid cultivars and usually cosmetic; good air circulation is the main defense. per NC State
What pairs well with Coreopsis
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
False Indigo
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Goldenrod
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; they only overlap in zones 8 to 9.
Wisteria
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; purple against yellow, for contrast.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Flowering Crabapple
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Lilac
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; taller at 10 ft, for the layer behind it.
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Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.