Coreopsis 'FIREFLY'

Coreopsis - tickseed is a wonderful, maintenance-free perennial which shines its way through any garden with rich-coloured flowers all summer long. You can have a country garden or be a city garden enthusiast, coreopsis will still have features suitable for your plot. Thread leaf tickseed, native to S.E. USA, is probably the most sought-after species in the market. It is tough, reliable, hardy, and apart from spring cleaning it requires no care.

Firefly is a hybrid thread leaf tickseed variety bred and introduced by my favourite breeder Harini Korlipara from Terra Nova^® Nurseries in Oregon, USA. It makes neat and dense mounds with small but bold, star-shaped, daisy-like, single, medium yellow flowers with a small, more concentrated mahogany eye in the centre. They are produced in profusion for an extremely long flowering period from early summer (June) until the last warm days of autumn (October). Deadheading will enhance flowering and make the plant look nicer but is not necessary. It flowers abundantly every year without any help.

The fluffy, thread-like leaves are very decorative on their own yet before the flowers come out. And if you don’t mind me saying that they look like dill (without the scent). They are powdery mildew resistant. The desirable advantage of this variety is that it is not invasive and does not seed itself around like some other coreopsis species, especially annuals. Patented in USA as PP26296 and protected in Europe by an EU 44058 grant.

It will grow in nearly any but boggy soil, and as it withstands drought it is popular for rockeries. Grow it in full sun only. No fertilizing required. Making it a glowing feature in your perennial garden bed is the reasonable and expected way of using it. But placing it among shrubs with different foliage and flowers will mean an honour for this easy and affordable beauty. Fully hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 26-08-2022