Whorled tickseed
Coreopsis verticillata

Family: Compositae

What it is like

Coreopsis verticillata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Open rocky dry woods, open pineland, margins of woods, pine savannahs and post oak savannahs.

Found primarily in the east-central United States, from Maryland south to Georgia, with isolated populations as far west as Oklahoma and as far north as Québec and Ontario.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, North America, USA

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Edible flowers.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Diuretic.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Other

Rating: 3

Groundcover. A good medium to high density fast growing groundcover. Erosion Control. Ornamental: Good in flower beds, borders, mass plantings, entrace ways, foundations, raised planters, and naturalized sunny areas. A good plant for areas with poor, dry soils. Container Garden. Cut Flower. Insectory:Long flowering period attracts butterflies..

Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.

Attracts Wildlife: Plants noted for attracting wildlife

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

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

A hardy herbaceous rhizomatous perennial. It can tolerate drought, poor soil, extreme heat, and neglect. Life Span: Short-Lived Perennial. Stand Persistence: Long. Form: Clump. Texture: Fine. Sun: Full Sun. Soil Type: Sandy, Loamy, Silty. Soil Moisture: Moderate, Dry. Soil pH: 6.5 - 7.5. Root Type: Rhizome. Seasonal Interest: Summer-Fall. Notes: Spreads via rhizome, forms a dense clump. Seeds resemble ticks, hence the name. Cultivars available. The following notable cultivars have all gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit: 'Grandiflora' - taller than other cultivars, with slightly larger flowers. 'Moonbeam' - pale, sulphur-yellow flowers, slightly shorter growth. 'Zagreb' - shorter than the species, bright yellow flowers. Flower Color: Yellow. Drought: Tolerant. Flood: Sensitive. Cold Injury: Infrequent. Wind Storm Damage: Infrequent. Disease Issues: Minor. Insect/Pest Damage: Minor. Animal Damage: Deer. Bloom Time: Summer - Late Fall. Fruit Time: Summer - Fall. Tends to sprawl, particularly if grown in moist and/or fertile soils. Crown rot may occur if grown in moist, poorly drained soils. Plants may be sheared in mid to late summer to promote a fall rebloom and to remove any sprawling or unkempt foliage. Species plants can spread somewhat aggressively in the garden by both rhizomes and self-seeding. 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.

Propagating it: Propagation is by seed or division of the rhizomes.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Species plants can spread somewhat aggressively in the garden by both rhizomes and self-seeding.

Its other names

Local names

Whorled tickseed, Whorled coreopsis, Thread-leaved tickseed, Thread leaf coreopsis, and Pot-of-gold.

Synonyms

C. verticillata var. verticillata