Coreopsis is one of my favorite perennials. Not only is it easy to grow but there are many varieties, with some blooming almost all summer long. Coreopsis, commonly called tickseed, grows in zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety.

Coreopsis tinctoria grows to 3 feet high with two-toned flowers of red and yellow while coreopsis grandiflora has jagged two inch yellow blooms atop 18-36 inch stems. Some cultivars have airy looking foilage, and some like coreopsis rosea have pink blooms.

All members of this unfussy family love sunshine. Coreopsis can be started from seed or you can purchase plants. The plants spread by means of underground stems, to form nice size drifts. Although coreopsis is drought tolerant, watering during dry spells will produce nicer looking plants.

Deadheading makes coreopsis look neater and will encourage more bloom. You can deadhead by pinching off the blooms.

If your coreopsis has outgrown the space you want it in, carefully dig at the clumps outer edges and break off rooted portions to move or give away.

Perennials such as lavender and salvia that have flowering spikes look nice planted with coreopsis.