Coreopsis flowers: planting and care in the open field, photo, reproduction

Planting and caring for perennial coreopsis is not difficult. In nature, this bright flower often grows on infertile soils, it withstands drought and temperature extremes well. Therefore, care for perennial coreopsis is reduced only to rare watering and periodic pruning of wilted inflorescences. Anyone can do this simple task.

Description and characteristics

Coreopsis perennial belongs to the Asteraceae family. This is a low-growing shrub that usually grows no more than 100 cm. The leaves are bright green, dissected, palmate in shape, and can be whole. They are located opposite (opposite each other).

Coreopsis perennial is a very unpretentious plant: in natural conditions it can be found even on depleted sandy soils, including abandoned wastelands and along roadsides. The root system allows you to get maximum moisture. Therefore, perennial coreopsis feels good even in the dry season.

Coreopsis produces low, fairly compact bushes

Coreopsis bloom time

Coreopsis blooms throughout the summer – i.e. from June to September inclusive. In some species, flowers can appear even in October, until the onset of the first frost. To maintain lush flowering, it is recommended to regularly remove faded parts.

Perennial coreopsis petals are colored in different colors:

• yellow;
• Orange;
• brown;
• pink;
• marble.

There are both monophonic and two-color inflorescences (for example, yellow and chocolate shades). Flowers can be either simple or double-shaped (lush, with several rows of petals).

The bright two-tone petals of coreopsis are clearly visible even in the remote corners of the garden.

Varieties of coreopsis perennial

There are more than 100 species in the genus of perennial coreopsis (Coreopsis), and only 10% of them are actively used in culture. The most common are described below.

Large-flowered (grandiflora)

This type of perennial coreopsis is found in North America. Belongs to tall – strongly branching shoots reach a height of 100 cm. The leaves are narrow, longitudinal, dissected type (basal leaves are simple), saturated green.

The species got its name due to very large flowers that grow up to 7-8 cm in diameter.

There are several varieties:

• Calypso (Calypso) – a variegated representative with yellow petals with a red core;

  

• Baden Gold (Baden Gold) – one of the high varieties;

  

• Sunburst (Sunburst) – tall culture of sunny colors;

  

• Sanray (Sunray) – medium-sized bush with lemon terry inflorescences;

  

• Sundancer (Sundancer) – a dwarf subspecies 20-30 cm high.

  

Lanceolate

Lanceolate (lanceolata) is another American species of coreopsis. The bush is medium tall, the shoots branch well, reach a height of 50-60 cm. The leaves are of a simple type, flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, yellow. It blooms mainly in the second half of summer, for 8 weeks in a row.

Popular varieties of this species:

• golden queen (Golden Queen) – perennial 50-60 cm high, basket diameter – 6 cm;

  

• Robin (Rotkehlchen) – grows up to 45 cm in length, inflorescence diameter – 5 cm;

  

• Goldfin (Goldfink) – undersized (20-30 cm) perennial coreopsis.

  

Muddy

The whorled appearance (verticillata) gives powerful, tall bushes up to 100 cm high. The leaves are very narrow, therefore they resemble needles of a dark green color. The flowers are small, 2-3 cm in diameter, but numerous. In addition, they attract attention with a bright yellow color, which looks especially attractive against the backdrop of foliage. The flowers of this perennial coreopsis resemble stars.

It begins to bloom in mid-July, inflorescences appear for more than two months. It grows without transplanting to a new place up to 5-6 years. The most common varieties are:

1. Zagreb (Zagreb) – undersized (20-30 cm), golden flowers.

   

2. Moonbeam (Munbim) – also undersized, with cream or light yellow flowers.

   

3. Mercury Rising (Mercury Rising) is a beautiful perennial coreopsis with cherry petals and a yellow core.

   

4. Golden Shower (Golden rain) – a medium-sized bush (height 60-70 cm) with golden flowers.

   

Pink (rosea)

One of the most interesting types of perennial coreopsis: a bush up to 30-40 cm, two-color petals (pale pink with a red core).

Pink coreopsis blooms all summer, capturing even September

Popular varieties:

1. Sweet Dreams (Sweet dreams) – crimson petals, with a white border and a yellow core.

   

2. Heaven’s Gate (Heavenly gates) – undersized (20-40 cm), flowers of a rich pink and purple hue.

   

Ear-shaped (auriculata)

This is a low-growing species of perennial coreopsis, the branches grow up to 20-30 cm. The flowers are lemon yellow.

Eared coreopsis attracts attention with a pleasant color and elegant shape.

Gardeners prefer these varieties of this perennial crop:

1. girl (Nana) – a small, dense shrub with oval leaves. It begins to bloom in spring, the inflorescences are yellow and orange. Repeated flowering may begin in the autumn.

   

2. Zamphir (Zamfir) – a small shrub with golden-orange flowers.

   

Reproduction of coreopsis

Breeding perennial coreopsis is quite simple. It can be grown from seeds, cuttings, or new plants can be obtained by dividing the mother bush.

Division of the bush

This is the easiest way. You can divide adult bushes that are at least 3-4 years old. The procedure is started in early spring, when the snow has already melted, but the phase of active growth has not yet begun. Sequencing:

1. The earth around the bush is loosened.
2. Then they are cut around the perimeter so that they can be dug out along with an earthen clod.
3. Carefully remove, trying not to damage the roots.
4. They take a sharp knife and cut several pieces so that each of them has 2-3 kidneys.
5. They are seated in a permanent place and then looked after in the same way as for an adult seedling.

Cutting

Perennial coreopsis can also be propagated by cuttings. To do this, at the beginning of summer you need to get a few green petioles. The sequence of actions is simple:

1. Choose a few healthy shoots.
2. Cut off the lower part under the leaves (8-10 cm below the internode).
3. Placed in a pot with ordinary soil (garden soil) – 2-3 petioles per container.
4. Moisturize and grow directly on the street in partial shade from a shrub, tree or building.
5. They are watered regularly, and after 1,5-2 months they are planted in a permanent place.

Growing coreopsis from seeds

The term for planting perennial coreopsis seeds for seedlings is March or early April. You can use any soil – universal for flower seedlings or your own mixture of garden soil, humus, compost (2: 1: 1) with the addition of a few pinches of coarse sand. Initially, the seeds of perennial coreopsis are planted in common containers (containers, boxes), then dive in cups.

The sequence of actions is standard:

1. The soil and containers are disinfected in a 1-2% solution of potassium permanganate or a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.
2. A small (3-4 cm) layer of small stones is laid at the bottom. If necessary, make several drainage holes.
3. The seeds are planted at a distance of 5 cm from each other, without deepening (it is enough to sprinkle a little earth with the addition of sand).
4. Sprayed with water.
5. Cover with a lid and put on the windowsill (the temperature should be at room temperature).
6. Dive after the appearance of three true leaves.
7. A week later, a liquid complex fertilizer is applied.
8. 2-3 weeks before transplanting seedlings of perennial coreopsis into the ground, it is periodically taken out to the balcony or outside (temperature 15-16 ° C).

Planting and caring for coreopsis flowers

In the garden, caring for perennial coreopsis is quite simple. This is one of the most unpretentious plants that needs only timely watering and pruning.

Dates of sowing and planting in open ground

You need to prepare for planting seeds at the end of February. The exact time depends on the region:

• in the middle lane, seedlings of perennial coreopsis begin to grow in mid-March;
• in the southern regions – in early spring;
• in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East – at the end of the month or in the first decade of April.

Perennial coreopsis seedlings are transferred to the flower bed in mid-May (if the spring turned out to be cool, towards the end of the month).

Sowing seeds and caring for seedlings

Coreopsis can be propagated by seeds in two ways:

1. reckless – the seeds are planted in open ground in May or June, moistened, covered with a film, and in July-August they dive to a permanent place.
2. seedling – the traditional way described above. Caring for seedlings is quite simple – it can be obtained under normal room conditions.

If you grow bushes in the first way, they will give flowers only for the next season, and if you get seedlings, flowering will begin in the same year.

Site and soil preparation

The place for planting perennial coreopsis is chosen depending on the composition, as well as on several practical points:

• the site should be lit – even a weak penumbra is undesirable;
• hills are preferred – water accumulates in the lowlands;
• if the variety is tall, it is important to provide protection from strong winds.

The site is pre-cleaned and dug up. If the soil is fertile, additional fertilization is not necessary. If the soil is depleted, it is necessary to apply 50-60 g of complex mineral fertilizer per square meter. It is not necessary to do this – top dressing can also be patched into the holes during planting.

If the soil is heavy, clayey, then when digging it is necessary to add coarse sand to it – 200-300 g per 1 m².

Before planting, the site must be cleared and dug up to half the bayonet of a shovel

Planting coreopsis in open ground

The sequence of actions when landing on a flower bed:

1. Form several holes. The depth is determined by the size of the rhizome, and the distance depends on the variety: for undersized leaves an interval of 15-20 cm, for tall ones – 30 cm.
2. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the hole (pebbles, broken bricks, other small stones).
3. If the soil is infertile, prepare a mixture of garden soil with peat (in equal amounts), superphosphate and potassium salt (a pinch for each hole).
4. Root seedlings and lightly tamp the ground.
5. Plentifully watered and mulched with straw, sawdust, hay or other improvised materials.

Aftercare

In the future, caring for coreopsis comes down to a few simple rules:

1. It must be watered regularly, preventing complete drying and cracking of the soil. The volume of water should not be too large, and during the rainy period it is not necessary to give excess liquid at all.
2. If fertilizers have already been applied to the planting pit, it is not necessary to feed perennial coreopsis in the first season. And starting next year, you can give a complex mineral fertilizer in the spring, during flowering and after it ends (but not later than August).
3. Withered inflorescences are cut off immediately. Thanks to this, new flowers will appear, which will also have time to decorate the garden.
4. The soil is periodically loosened, especially 1-2 days after watering or top dressing.
5. If the coreopsis is tall and winds often blow in the area, it is advisable to put a wooden peg and tie the plant to it.
6. For the winter, total pruning is carried out at the root (stumps of 4-5 cm are left) and covered with a layer of mulch – spruce branches, dry foliage, hay. In the south, this is not necessary – there coreopsis will be able to endure the winter without shelter.

When can I repot Coreopsis?

Coreopsis grows in the same place in the garden for a long time. But since the culture is perennial, the bush begins to thicken and age. Therefore, at least once every 4-5 years, it must be transplanted, i.e. divide into several parts.

To do this, in early spring, the bush is dug up and several divisions with two healthy buds are obtained. Then they are transplanted to a new place, leaving an interval of 15-30 cm (depending on the characteristics of the variety).

It is advisable to transplant adult bushes of perennial coreopsis at least once every 4-5 years

Diseases and pests

Different types and varieties of perennial coreopsis have fairly good immunity, so they do not suffer from diseases so often. But sometimes plants can be affected by various infections:

• rust;
• fusariosis;
• leaf spot;
• tobacco mosaic.

Therefore, in the spring (in April or May), it is recommended to treat the bushes with any fungicide:

• “Tatu”;
• “Order”;
• “Fitosporin”;
• “Profit”;
• “Topaz”;
• Bordeaux liquid.

In summer, aphids and some beetles can parasitize the leaves of perennial coreopsis. They are removed manually or washed off with water. Then a solution of any insecticide should be sprayed over the plants:

• “Aktara”;
• “Spark”;
• “Decis”;
• “Confidor”;
• “Fufanon”.

You can also use folk remedies – a decoction of tomato leaves, an infusion of wood ash, tobacco dust, garlic, onion peel, chili peppers and other recipes.

Coreopsis in landscape design

With elegant and very bright flowers, coreopsis literally enlivens the garden. The plant is unpretentious, so it can be planted anywhere – both in the very center of the flower garden, and along the perimeter to create a pleasant background and organize space.

The photo shows some interesting options for using perennial coreopsis to decorate the garden:

1. Along the road.

   

2. On rocky hills.

   

3. Single landing next to the road.

   

4. In composition with other colors (better with blue, lilac shades).

   

5. Near the fence, in pots.

   

Perennial coreopsis can be planted along the perimeter of the lawn, used in mixborders, multi-tiered flower beds, in rock gardens and other compositions.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Coreopsis perennials is really easy. Bushes take root well on both light and heavy soils and do not require special attention. In the future, the culture will spread to the site very quickly, since self-seeding is possible. Therefore, it is better to cut the inflorescences immediately after withering in order to prevent the formation of fruits (dry boxes).