Coreopsis tripteris (Tall Tickseed)
Regular price
$10.00
Plant Specifications
Bloom Period: Summer, Fall
Size: 3' - 8' tall
Uses: Pollinator gardens, Rain gardens
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Moisture: Average, Moist
Soil Type: Sandy, Loam, Clay
Please note: WBN does not ship potted plants. Please see our pickup instructions for details.
Coreopsis tripteris (synonymous with Anacis tripteris) is the tall coreopsis, or the tall tickseed, aptly named as it grows between 3 to 9 feet tall when in flower. It blooms in summer with sunflower-like yellow flowers with dark centers, pollinated by small native bees (including pollen specialists), butterflies, moths, and beneficial native beetles and flies.
Tickseeds are favored by small birds for forage, such as the brilliantly colored goldfinch, which pick the ample bounty of seed even as flowers are still in bloom. Tall tickseed is also a host plant for several pollen specialist bees, and a larval host for butterflies, such as the Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis).
Coreopsis tripteris prefers average to moist soils, composed of clay, sand, or loam, and prefers high sun. Tolerant of part sun, it's an option for open woodland gardens. It spreads underground to form colonies, usually by a few inches in size each year. It also seeds itself well on open ground, but in dense communities its spread is limited.
In a formal garden, Coreopsis tripteris may be staked, or supported by a tomato cage to prevent flopping. Planting densely with other plants increases root competition and reduced excessive growth. Plants stay shorter in less sun and drier soils. Pruning the stems in late spring or early summer with a "Chelsea Chop" reduces height without sacrificing blooms.
However, its appeal for us comes from its slender columnar habit, and loose airy appearance, which mesh beautifully in meadows and pollinator gardens. The plants we sell were propagated from a wild population in Hanover County.