These Tickseed Varieties Are So Satisfying To Grow And Amazing For Pollinators
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) C. ‘Cosmic Eye’ (Big Bang Series)
- 2) C. ‘Daybreak’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- 3) C. ‘Golden Dream’
- 4) C. grandiflora ‘Calypso’
- 5) C. grandiflora ‘Early Sunrise’
- 6) C. lanceolata
- 7) C. ‘Pumpkin Pie’ (Pie Series)
- 8) C. ‘Red Elf’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- 9) C. ‘Redshift’
- 10) C. rosea ‘Heaven’s Gate’
- 11) C. ‘Starlight’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- 12) C. ‘UpTick Yellow And Red’ (UpTick Series)
- 13) C. verticillata ‘Grandiflora’
- 14) C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
- 15) C. verticillata ‘Zagreb’
- References
Coreopsis, also known as tickseeds, can be annuals or perennials if lifted and stored in a frost-free location over the winter.
They have charming daisy-like flowers on long stalks that make them popular for summer blooms.
Although they are not native to the UK1Coreopsis L. (n.d.). Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved July 5, 2023, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60437222-2, they can be good for our native pollinators when included in a garden.
“If growing for pollinators, don’t opt for a semi-double or double-flowered cultivar but opt for an open flower form so that pollinators can access the nectar and pollen,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
Annual tickseed varieties of the species Coreopsis tinctoria will need to be re-grown each year and common types include:
- C. tinctoria ‘Mahogany Midget’
- C. tinctoria ‘Quills and Thrills’
- C. tinctoria ‘Radiata Tigrina’
Perennial tickseed varieties will come back each year, with some of the most common options in the UK including:
- C. verticillata
- C. verticillata ‘Bengal Tiger’
- C. rosea
- C. tripteris
- C. ‘Red Elf’
- C. ‘Star Cluster’
- C. ‘Sweet Marmalade’
- C. ‘Uptick Gold and Bronze’
I share more detail underneath with fifteen perennial and annual options worth growing.
1) C. ‘Cosmic Eye’ (Big Bang Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘cosmic eye’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: red and yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
A tickseed in the ‘Big Bang’ series of cultivars, this is a clump-forming perennial.
The flowers, which are great for cut flowers and floral arrangements, are borne abundantly on the plants for a long period over the summer.
They have yellow-toothed petals with burgundy red towards their centres.
Grow them in full sun or part shade.
2) C. ‘Daybreak’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘daybreak’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow and red
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
Part of the ‘Li’l Bang’ series, this Coreopsis is a compact little cultivar.
It forms neat mounds around 30-40cm high, bearing yellow and bright red flowers on long stalks for a long period of time over the summer months.
3) C. ‘Golden Dream’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘golden dream’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
The bright yellow daisy-like blooms on this cultivar also flower for a long period well into the late summer.
The blooms stand out vividly against the bright green foliage.
This is another perennial and compact clump-former, which grows less than 50cm in height and spread.
4) C. grandiflora ‘Calypso’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘calypso’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow and red
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
The yellow flowers on this tickseed variety have toothed petal edges that are maroon towards the centres.
These also flower over the summer months, holding the blooms on their long stalks above the lanceolate leaves, which add interest with their attractive variegation.
5) C. grandiflora ‘Early Sunrise’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘early sunrise’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / annual
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
A popular perennial commonly grown as an annual with semi-double blooms with a vivid sunshine-yellow hue, this coreopsis has large flowers which grow to 5cm across.
These blooms remain on the plants for a long period, from spring right through to the late summer.
6) C. lanceolata
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
An RHS plant for pollinators, this coreopsis is a bushy and clump-forming perennial with lanceolate leaves and bright yellow, daisy-like blooms.
Again, these vivid and cheery flowers are held on the plants for a long period over the summer months.
7) C. ‘Pumpkin Pie’ (Pie Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘pumpkin pie’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / annual
- FLOWERS: red and orange
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
Part of the ‘Pie’ series of coreopsis, this short-lived perennial plant has vivid flowers with deep orange petals around a reddish eye.
These bloom from early summer right through to early autumn above the foliage in mounds around 15cm tall with a 40cm spread.
8) C. ‘Red Elf’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘red elf’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: red
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
Another option from the ‘Li’l Bang’ series of coreopsis, this cultivar is a compact option, which forms mounds around 30cm high and wide of fern-like foliage above which the large flowers form.
These blooms are bright red with golden eyes and they are borne on reddish-green stems.
They bloom through summer and into autumn.
9) C. ‘Redshift’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘redshift’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: red and yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
Another great option for cut flowers, this coreopsis has lanceolate leaves above which the flowers bloom throughout the summer.
The daisy-like flowers are wine-red in hue, held on stems that are yellow to creamy depending on the temperatures.
10) C. rosea ‘Heaven’s Gate’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘heaven’s gate’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: pink, red, yellow and purple
- SUNLIGHT: full sun
This is a perennial that is rhizomatous and clump-forming.
It forms low mounds of fern-like foliage above which the abundant flowers are held on their longer, branching stalks through the summer months and often well into autumn.
The flowers are pink with deeper purple towards the centres and yellow central disks.
These flowers are around 4cm across.
Grow in full sun in a sheltered spot.
11) C. ‘Starlight’ (Li’l Bang Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘starlight’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: white and red
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
Another of the ‘Li’l Bang’ series of coreopsis, ‘Starlight’ is an eye-catching tickseed to grow.
It has white flowers, with burgundy red towards the centres, and golden eyes.
Again, these bloom for a long time over the summer months above the lanceolate leaves.
12) C. ‘UpTick Yellow And Red’ (UpTick Series)
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘baluptowed’
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: red and yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
One of the ‘UpTick’ series, this Coreopsis is another compact option, with a bushy, clump-forming habit of growth.
The mid-green leaves are elongated and lance-shaped and the flowers are large and daisy-like, with pale yellow and deep burgundy-red coloration.
Like other tickseeds, they flower for a long period in summer and into autumn.
13) C. verticillata ‘Grandiflora’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘grandiflora’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
This fairly compact coreopsis, a herbaceous perennial, grows to around 60cm tall.
It has fern-like finely divided foliage which is almost hidden by the many bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom above it in the summer months.
Grow in full sun or part shade.
14) C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘moonbeam’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
This compact perennial grows around 50cm or less in height and spread and comes alive in the summer months, with the prolific lemon-yellow blooms held just above the finely divided foliage.
Grow in full sun or partial shade in fertile and moist yet well-drained or well-drained soil.
15) C. verticillata ‘Zagreb’
- COMMON NAME(S): tickseed ‘zagreb’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FLOWERS: yellow
- SUNLIGHT: full sun / part shade
Another coreopsis with cheery, yellow, daisy-like blooms, this cultivar bears its flowers in the early summer.
It is a herbaceous perennial which requires moist but well-drained or well-drained conditions, in full sun or part shade.
