Do I need to cut it back?

Yes, cutting back the stems by half after the first bloom often triggers a nice second show.

Yes, it is a short-lived perennial that often acts like an annual in colder climates.

Plant guide

Large flowered tickseed.

Coreopsis grandiflora

Pronounced kor-ee-OP-sis gran-di-FLOR-uh

Also known as American tickseed, Large-flowered Tickseed, big-flowered tickseed, large-flower tickseed, large-flowered coreopsis, largeflower tickseed

large-flowered tickseed — Photo by Don Bright (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This cheerful perennial brings a sunny splash of yellow to your garden beds. It is a reliable bloomer that loves soaking up the sun all summer long. You will find it is quite hardy and attracts plenty of pollinators.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to late summer

Care

Plant this beauty in well draining soil to keep the roots happy. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers later in the season. Watch for powdery mildew if the air circulation is poor.

Watering: Water deeply once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
Pruning: Regularly remove faded flowers to keep the plant tidy and promote new growth.
Repotting: Divide the clumps every few years to maintain plant vigor and prevent overcrowding.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -34 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 60%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface instead of soaking in.
The plant stops blooming despite good light.

Safety

People: There are no known reports of significant toxicity to humans.
Children: The plant is generally safe for children, but it is always best to discourage them from eating garden plants.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the foliage.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can cause mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the peak bloom season.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Bright yellow daisy like flowers
Deeply lobed lance shaped leaves
Clumping habit with slender stems
Small yellow to golden central disk

Height: 0.3 to 0.9m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 3 to 5cm

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation.
Aphids · Small insects that suck sap from new growth and flower buds.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Leave the foliage standing until late winter to protect the crown, then trim back to the base in early spring.
In containers: It grows well in containers at least 30 centimeters deep with good drainage.

Division

Dig up the clump in early spring.
Gently pull the root ball apart into smaller sections.
Replant the divisions immediately at the same depth.

Seed

Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost.
Lightly cover with soil as they need some light to germinate.
Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear.

Plant these in groups of three or more to create a stronger visual impact and provide a better landing pad for pollinators.

Grows well with

Purple Coneflower · They share similar sun and water requirements and provide a beautiful color contrast.
Salvia · The vertical spikes of salvia look great next to the daisy-like flowers of coreopsis.
Black-eyed Susan · Both plants are hardy, sun-loving natives that bloom throughout the summer.

Similar species

Tickseed · It has finer, thread-like foliage and a more compact growth habit.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Coreopsis
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and southeastern United States.
Conservation: This plant is common in its native range and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in open, sunny prairies and disturbed areas where it can easily reseed itself.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, seed source for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: pollinator garden, border plant, cut flowers, meadow planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to cut it back?: Yes, cutting back the stems by half after the first bloom often triggers a nice second show.
Is it a perennial?: Yes, it is a short-lived perennial that often acts like an annual in colder climates.

Where the name comes from

The name Coreopsis comes from the Greek 'koris' meaning bug and 'opsis' meaning view, describing the appearance of the seeds.

Good to know

Coreopsis is the state flower of Florida.
Deadheading spent blooms encourages a second flush of flowers.
These plants are very tolerant of heat and dry spells once established.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.