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Coreopsis 'FULL MOON' tickseed
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Coreopsis
The genus Coreopsis, described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, comprises nearly forty predominantly North American species that evolved in open prairies, on dry slopes and along moist margins of wetlands, and this ecological breadth explains their present-day reliability in gardens. Linnaeus chose a name derived from the Greek koris and opsis, meaning “the appearance of a bug”, because the dry achenes resemble tiny insects, a small example of his observational humour. The taxonomy of the genus was not always settled and in 18th and 19th centuries various synonyms appeared, such as Calliopsis and Acispermum, before modern revisions unified the group, particularly the work of Ernest E. Sherff (1882–1966). Coreopsis holds strong place in American culture: Coreopsis tinctoria was used by Indigenous peoples for dyeing textiles, and several US states have chosen different species as their official flowers – Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Maryland.
Hybrid tickseeds represent a broad group of interspecific hybrids created by combining several North American species, each contributing specific traits to the final genetic mix. C. grandiflora increases flower size and ensures an early start to flowering, C. lanceolata adds stem strength, drought tolerance and the ability to grow in poor soils, C. tinctoria provides genetic variability and a wide colour range, C. rosea contributes pastel shades and a finer texture, and C. verticillata supplies a fibrous root system that improves winter survival and reduces the risk of rot. Breeding and selection are carried out under conditions of high humidity, summer drought and temperature fluctuations in order to eliminate lines prone to the typical weaknesses seen in some coreopsis. Most modern hybrids are partially or fully sterile, which prolongs the flowering period and maintains a more compact habit without self‑seeding. The result is a group of plants well adapted to variable European climates, where winter moisture, summer heat and irregular rainfall alternate throughout the season.
Full Moon tickseed is a popular, softly coloured cultivar forming a medium‑tall, slightly spreading mound, typically around 50 cm in height and somewhat broader in width. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate and finely divided, with the fibrous texture characteristic of C. verticillata, and are a deep, healthy green. The flowers are broad and open, with 8 to 9 ray florets, pale yellow to buttery in colour, surrounding a bright yellow centre composed of numerous small tubular florets. Individual blooms measure 6–8 cm across, noticeably larger than those of the parent species. Flowering usually begins in late June and continues into September, sometimes with a brief pause during the hottest weeks of summer. The plant flowers on both new and partially older growth, which contributes to its long season. The mound is slightly irregular and naturally tousled, with good regenerative capacity after cutting back — if it becomes untidy in midsummer, it can be reduced by about half and will reliably reshoot and flower again. In full sun it maintains a compact outline, though in overly rich soils it may grow more loosely.
‘Full Moon’ belongs to the Big Bang™ Series, initiated by Darrell Probst (USA) around the year 2000. The aim of the programme was to produce sterile hybrids with prolonged flowering, stable growth habit and high tolerance to moisture. Its genetic foundation is a complex interspecific hybrid (C. grandiflora × C. lanceolata × C. verticillata), supplemented by a smaller contribution of C. tinctoria for colour expression and C. rosea for finer texture. ‘Full Moon’ was introduced in 2005 under the patent PP16270. Within the Big Bang™ Series it ranks among the largest and most stable cultivars, with high winter hardiness (approximately –29 °C) and long‑term reliability in garden plantings. The breeding programme continued with further cultivars such as ‘Redshift’, ‘Starcluster’ and ‘Cosmic Eye’, which broaden the colour range and growth forms of hybrid coreopsis.
These brightly flowering tickseeds bring colour to perennial borders from early summer to the last warm and sunny days of the season. They combine well with any perennials and grasses that share similar requirements, meaning full sun and predominantly dry conditions. Most often they are paired with contrasting colours such as purple salvias, pink and blue scabious, and meadow-like pastel-coloured yarrow cultivars. They look excellent among low grasses such as silvery blue fescues and also serve well as edging along paths or as the lowest layer in front of smaller shrubs, whether evergreen or flowering, for example compact buddleias, with which they harmonise beautifully.
Last update 21-8-2025; 13-06-2026
Thread‑leaf tickseed and their hybrids are reliable perennials provided their origins are respected: they require sunny, open and well‑ventilated sites. They need full sun and a free‑draining soil that must never remain permanently wet, as this leads to loss of vigour and makes the plants prone to winter rot. Watering is necessary only during periods of extreme drought, since they are naturally adapted to alternating wet and dry conditions. They do not require feeding, or only a light application of compost in spring, because overly rich soils and the use of artificial fertilisers result in lush but unstable growth and eventual weakening of the plant. Removing spent flowers together with their stems helps to prolong the flowering period and maintains a clean, tidy appearance. The entire plant should be cut back to about 3–5 cm above ground level in spring once all frosts have passed. They are not reliably long‑lived in containers. Wind and exposed positions do not trouble them. Hardiness varies slightly between cultivars, but most tolerate around minus 29 °C (USDA zone 5), which means they overwinter without difficulty in typical Central European conditions and require no special protection.
