Taxonomy of Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants:
Taxonomy classifies Moonbeam coreopsis plants as Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'. The common name for this genus is "tickseed."
Plant Type for Moonbeam Coreopsis Flowers:
Moonbeam coreopsis plants are classified as herbaceous perennials.
Characteristics of Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants:
Moonbeam coreopsis plants are one of the threadleaf varieties. Reaching 2’x2’, these perennials bear clusters of light yellow, daisy-like blooms. This bushy plant is valued for its long blooming period.
Planting Zones for Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants:
Moonbeam coreopsis flowers can be grown in planting zones 3-9.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants:
Moonbeam coreopsis flowers prefer full sun and a well-drained soil. Once established, they are drought-tolerant.
Caveat in Growing Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants:
Moonbeam coreopsis flowers are considered somewhat invasive plants.
Uses for Moonbeam Coreopsis Plants in Landscape Design:
Moonbeam coreopsis plants are popular in border plantings. Their drought tolerance makes them candidates for rock gardens (if you need tall plants somewhere), to which their long blooming period can offer much-needed color.
Care for Moonbeam Coreopsis Flowers:
Extend the blooming period for Moonbeam coreopsis flowers through "deadheading" (removing the spent blooms). "However," as Marie Iannotti notes, "the profusion of delicate blooms can make deadheading a nightmare. An easier solution is to simply wait until the first flush of bloom wanes and sheer the entire plant back. It will recover quickly."
More on "Tickseed" Flowers:
The word, "coreopsis," which is the scientific name for the flower, derives from the Greek for "bug-like," due to the resemblance that coreopsis seeds bear to ticks. Again, "tickseed" is the common name for coreopsis. But this is a case where the scientific name (coreopsis) is more commonly used than the common name (tickseed)! Thus, for practical purposes, the scientific name has become the common name. Perhaps this is because retailers feel consumers would shun a plant associated (even if only in name) with ticks, some of which bear Lyme disease. Or it could be that, as scientific names go, "coreopsis" has a rather melodious ring to it.
