Whorled tickseed

Year-round

Whorled tickseed is an easygoing, sun-loving perennial that blooms yellow all summer with very little fuss.

• Give it full sun or light shade and well-drained soil.
• Once settled, it handles dry spells, so water deeply but not often.
• Skip heavy feeding. Poor to average soil is fine.
• The ASPCA lists tickseed (Coreopsis) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Fall

Fall is easy. Enjoy the last blooms and wait to cut back until the plant dies down.

• Stop watering unless it is unusually dry.
• Cut stems down after they die back, leaving a few inches above the ground.
• Skip fertilizer so the plant can slow down for winter.

If the bed faces the street, a fall cutback to a few inches keeps it looking tidy and HOA-friendly.

Winter

Winter needs almost nothing. The plant rests underground until spring.

• No watering needed while it is frozen or dormant.
• Good drainage matters most, since soggy winter soil is the main risk.
• Leave a few inches of stem to mark the spot if you cut back in fall.

Spring

Spring is the time to tidy up, divide and let new feathery growth take off.

• Cut any old stems left standing down to the base before new growth gets tall.
• If the clump is crowded or thinning in the middle, divide it in early spring.
• Water new plants about once a week until roots settle.

Summer

Summer is bloom season. A little shearing keeps it neat and flowering.

• Water deeply during long dry spells, then let the soil dry a bit.
• Shear back the plant by about a quarter to a half in mid-summer to refresh it and encourage fall flowers.
• Watch for slugs and snails in damp weather.