Tickseed, Lobed tickseed, Mouse-eared Coreopsis, Eared Coreopsis
Coreopsis auriculata
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.
Coreopsis auriculata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 1.5
Where it is found
Rich calcareous hardwoods and openings.
South-eastern N. America - Florida and Louisiana, north to Virginia and Kentucky.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Massing.An orange to red/orange dye is obtained from the flowers and stems. Established plants are drought resistant. Special Features: Attracts birds, North American native, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers. The shorter cultivar Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' (Dwarf Mouse-ear Tickseed, Lobed Tickseed 'Nana’) is a good low ground cover performing best with consistent moisture.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Attracts Wildlife: Plants noted for attracting wildlife
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil. Prefers a fertile well-drained moisture retentive medium soil. Requires a sunny position. Established plants are drought resistant. Plants are apt to die out overwinter if they are grown on clay soils. A good bee plant. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) 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 clumper with limited spread. 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. The shorter cultivar Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' (Dwarf Mouse-ear Tickseed, Lobed Tickseed 'Nana’) is useful for borders, edging, rock gardens and ground cover performing best with consistent moisture. It spreads by stolons but is not invasive. Height: 15-30 cm (6-12 in) Spread: 15-30 cm (6-12 in).
Propagating it: Seed - sow March in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in mid spring. Once they are more than 15cm tall, plant the seedlings out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring. Cuttings of young basal shoots, May/June in a frame. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
The shorter cultivar Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' is known as Dwarf Mouse-ear Tickseed, Lobed Tickseed 'Nana’.