Pink tickseed
Coreopsis rosea

Family: Compositae

What it is like

Coreopsis rosea is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Pine barrens, moist open woods, shores of lakes, rivers or ponds and damp sandy depressions. This species generally occurs in pioneer habitats with changing water levels, low fertility, lack of surface leaf litter and few competing plants.

Native to the coastal plain in the northeastern U. S. from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to southeastern New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Disjunct populations occur in Nova Scotia, South Carolina and Georgia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

USA

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A good ground cover with medium to high density growing at a fast rate. Plants will spread in the garden by rhizomes and self-seeding to form a dense ground cover, sometimes to the point of being considered aggressive. Ornamental: Long summer bloom and airy foliage provide good accent in borders or rock gardens. Good small area ground cover. Also effective as an edger for borders, foundations and walks/paths. Naturalized areas, native plant gardens or cottage gardens. Wildlife Food: Attracts birds that eat the seeds. Insectory: Provides for food for pollinators. A good cut flower.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

An herbaceous perennial for temperate areas. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9. Soil pH: 6.6 - 7.8.Growth Rate: Moderate. Life Span: Long-Lived Perennial. Stand Persistence: Long. Form: Creeping. Texture: Fine. Sun: Full Sun, Partial Shade. Soil Type: Sandy, Loamy, Silty. Soil Moisture: Wet, Moderate. Root Type: Rhizome. Seasonal Interest: Summer-Fall. Spreads via rhizome and seeds, can be aggressive. Seeds resemble ticks, hence the name tickseed. Fruit is a cypsela. Flower Color: Pink, Yellow. Drought: Sensitive. Flood: Sensitive. Salt: Moderate. Bloom Time: Early Summer - Early Fall. Fruit Time: Summer - Fall. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground.

Propagating it: Sow seeds at 55° to 61°F in mid- or late winter, or divide plants in early spring. Basal cuttings can be rooted in spring.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pink coreopsis, Pink threadleaf coreopsis

Synonyms

Calliopsis rosea (Nutt.) Spreng. C. rosea f. leucantha Fernald. C. rosea f. rosea.