Coreopsis or tickseed is a lovely flower, but it can be tricky to grow reliably for many of us. It is particularly frustrating when a variety doesn’t live up to expectations or dies out after just one season. To find out why, I dig into the backstory about why so many cultivars disappoint, and what to do about it.
I love the airy sprays of bright blooms on most coreopsis, but so many cultivars on the market today just don’t seem to last beyond a year or two. Blooming can be inconsistent and plants can die seemingly without warning. Yet I often see coreopsis gracefully thriving in other people’s gardens. Nurseries are full of them, so they are definitely popular despite sporadic performance. Why is that, and what am I missing here?
It turns out there are numerous reasons. Here’s what to know before you shell out for that captivating hybrid at the garden center this spring.