Blooming profusely in summer with yellow and maroon daisies, the Dyer's or golden tickseed is a tall, robust wildflower that is great for naturalizing. Native to the Great Plains of central North America, it is a fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial that becomes covered with flowers from mid to late-summer and sometimes into fall, if plants are deadheaded.
Its fine green leaves are long and thickest along its long, branched, stiff stems. It has a very long, tall, top heavy habit, so it often needs to be staked. The daisies are small with coarse, jagged-edged petals that are gold with maroon or dark red bases and eyes. They appear in masses and attract lots and lots of butterflies and bees. The seedheads draw songbirds and the plants self-sow, though not aggressively.
Golden tickseed requires full sun and can be grown in many garden soils so long as they offer average to good drainage and fertility. Plants should be staked when they are relatively small, before they begin to flop. This tickseed was traditionally used to make a golden yellow dye for textiles, hence the name "tinctoria". It is ideal for children's gardens because of its bright color, butterfly attraction and use as a dye for paper and fabric. It is also a lovely wildflower, and its blooms are great for informal arrangements. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Coreopsis
Species - Tinctoria
Common name - Dyer's Tickseed
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 3 - 9
Height - 18"-36" / 45.7cm - 90cm
Spread - 12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45cm
Plant type - Annual Flower
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Neutral
Soil type - Loam
Water requirements - Average Water
Care level - Easy
Landscape uses - Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Wildflower
Germination rate - 90%
Bloom season - June - August
Leaf / Flower color - Light Green / Yellow with dark red centers
Useful Info | |
Germination | Sow in pots or trays of moist seed compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or warm place, and keep at a constant temperature of between +20C - +25C (68F - 77F). After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination will usually take 21-30 days. Succession sowings from March to June will provide continuous bloom. |