One of the very first perennials I purchased for my urban country garden over two decades past was acoreopsis — Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’. A garden later, one that has seen extreme changes as I defined my gardening style, nevertheless has ‘Moonbeam’ growing across the boundaries. Fall and spring are planting occasions.
Ever since I became interested in coreopsis, this wildlife-attracting native has undergone many improvements. It is an exciting time for gardeners enamored with this genus that is all-American. As I write this, I’ve two plant tags in my rear pocket out of coreopsis plants added to my garden this morning — Coreopsis ‘Cosmic Eye’ and Coreopsis ‘Creme Caramel’. They will have a trial within my North Carolina, Raleigh, garden before their performance is reported.
Daisy-like blossoms, typically in a traditional yellow, best describe the species. But recently there was a great shift in horticulture since coreopsis donned a fresh color — red. Coreopsis ‘Redshift’is a debut by Darrell Prodst. Older cultivars tended to have cream, yellow or orange blossoms. Blessed for fans of sexy colors, the color break resulted in a red. Redshift was named from this shifting, or break, in colours.
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Coreopsis’ common name is tickseed, but do not allow this unfortunate name frighten you away. Itwas given that title based on the look of the seed, not the beauty of the blossom.
Coreopsiswas named from the Greek words “koris,” meaning “flea” (bedbug), and “opsis,“meaning “resembling.”
In coreopsis, the case that holds the seed (the achene) looks like a flea.
Botanical name: Coreopsis ‘Redshift’
Common names: Tickseed, Redshift
USDA zones: 4a to 8b (find your zone)
Water necessity: Minimal formerly recognized; drought tolerant
Light requirement: Total sun
Mature size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Pest and disease tolerant; attracts wildlife; indigenous cultivar; appropriate for xeriscaping
Seasonal attention: Blooms all summer long
When to plant: Fall or spring
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Distinguishing attributes. Blooms are an attractive yellow with a dash of red. I find there to be variations in the total amount of red annually since the plant returns. I welcome that the surprise.
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The way to utilize it. Coreopsis ‘Redshift’ works well in the front edge of a garden bed. Redshift enjoys to splay, so it works well in the interior of a garden bed, where it appears like a skirt on additional perennials.
The additional red offers a richness to summer and autumn combinations. Combining Redshift using a native switchgrass that includes red accents, such as Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, pairs two comfy styles for a bold statement.
Redshift massed as a ground cover will imitate the garden’s layout. If the bed has quite a formal character, Redshift will choose a proper flair. If planted as in the hem of country flowers and shrubs, it will take on a free-form naturalistic style.
A suggestion I’ve found using this plant in layout: The reddish I pair it with the more the red of the coreopsis pops. And I am all about pop!
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Redshift grows with great achievement in my garden. I grow several types of coreopsis, but the reddish lured me in, compelling me to add just one more. The reddish against yellow continues to elicit admiration of this native cultivar, also because it will bloom from early summer well into the autumn, I will appreciate it for a whole four weeks.
Redshift can be frequently visited by butterflies, adding even more color to gardens. It also makes a great cut flower for inside.
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Planting notes. Even though the spread is about 2 ft, I love to put plants closer together in order they splay, the flowers of a plant will hide the crown of another.
• Plant in spring or fall, spacing plants 1 foot apart.
• Dig a hole twice the diameter of the nursery pot.
• Carefully remove the plant from its container and put it in the hole on the top of the root ball is level with the ground surface.
• Carefully backfill the indigenous soil around the root ball.
• Gently firm the soil; water completely.
• Employ a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature, and for weed control.
More yellow blossoms for your home garden
