Coreopsis Planting Guide
Coreopsis (Tickseed) is a cheerful, long-blooming native perennial that produces a continuous flush of bright yellow, gold, or bi-colored daisy-like flowers from early summer well into fall. One of the most reliable cut-and-come-again bloomers in the perennial garden, it thrives in hot, dry, sunny conditions and poor soil where many competitors struggle. An invaluable nectar source for native bees and butterflies, and a butterfly host plant for several species.
Coreopsis tinctoria · Flower · Asteraceae family · 60–80 days to maturity
Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Coreopsis is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.
Get Your Personalized Coreopsis Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Coreopsis?
Coreopsis Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Coreopsis planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Mar 6 | May 22 | May 29 | Aug 21 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 1 | May 17 | May 24 | Aug 16 – Oct 18 |
| Zone 4a | Feb 25 | May 13 | May 20 | Aug 5 – Oct 21 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 20 | May 8 | May 15 | Jul 31 – Oct 23 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 21 | May 2 | May 9 | Jul 18 – Oct 24 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 14 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jul 11 – Oct 24 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 6 | Apr 17 | Apr 17 | Jun 26 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 6b | Jan 30 | Apr 3 | Apr 10 | Jun 19 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 7a | Jan 21 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | Jun 3 – Oct 14 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 25 | May 27 – Oct 14 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 11 | Mar 1 | Mar 8 | May 10 – Oct 4 |
| Zone 8b | Dec 31 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | Apr 29 – Sep 23 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 16 | Jan 27 | Jan 27 | Mar 24 – Aug 25 |
| Zone 9b | Nov 30 | Jan 4 | Jan 11 | Mar 8 – Aug 9 |
How to Plant Coreopsis
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Low — drought tolerant
Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.
🧪 Soil pH
5.5 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 9b
📅 Days to Maturity
60–80 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Asteraceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Coreopsis
Coreopsis matures in just 60–80 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Coreopsis
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Coreopsis
Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost or direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate easily without stratification. Thrives in poor to average, well-drained soil — rich soil promotes foliage over flowers. Drought tolerant once established; overwatering is the most common mistake. Deadhead spent blooms to maintain continuous flowering through the season. Shear plants by one-third in midsummer for a fresh flush of late-season blooms. Year 2+ plants bloom most heavily. Divide every 2–3 years in early spring to rejuvenate crowded clumps.
Saving Coreopsis Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Coreopsis by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Coreopsis?
Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) takes 60 to 80 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Coreopsis grow in?
Coreopsis can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Coreopsis need?
Growing Coreopsis requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.5.