Greater coreopsis

Year-round

Greater tickseed likes sun to part shade and well-drained, even poor, soil. Wet soil is its main risk.

• Give it full sun (6 or more hours) or partial shade (2 to 6 hours).
• It does well in sandy or shallow rocky soil with good drainage.
• Crown rot can happen in moist, poorly drained soil.
• Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide.

Fall

In fall, seeds feed songbirds, so you can leave some flower heads.

• Songbirds eat the seeds.
• If you do not want volunteer seedlings, deadhead before seed ripens.

Winter

In winter it needs almost nothing. Just keep the crown from sitting in wet soil.

• It is listed as hardy in USDA zones 5a through 9b, so zone 7a is fine.
• Crown rot happens in poorly drained soil, so fix soggy spots if you can.

Spring

In spring, check drainage and divide the clump if it is getting tired.

• Division may be needed every 2 to 3 years to keep it robust.
• Pick a spot that drains well to avoid crown rot.

Summer

In summer it blooms and mostly looks after itself. Rich soil makes it sprawl.

• It blooms from late spring to late summer.
• It tends to sprawl if the soil is too fertile, so skip heavy feeding.
• Remove spent flowers to limit self-seeding.

Deadheading and its 3 to 4 foot height matter for curb appeal, so place it mid-bed rather than at the front edge.