Tickseed (Coreopsis ‘Limerock Ruby’)

Features and Characteristics

Coreopsis is a genus of between 75-80 species from North America, Mexico, Central and South America.

The genus name comes from the Greek words koris meaning “bug” and opsis meaning “like” in reference to the shape of the seed which resembles a bug or tick.

‘Limerock Ruby’ is an unusual red-flowered hybrid coreopsis that most resembles threadleaf coreopsis (C. verticillata) in form. It is a chance seedling resulting from a random cross-pollination of unidentified selections of C. rosea and C. verticillata. It is a rhizomatous perennial that typically grows in dense, bushy clumps to 8-12” tall. Ruby-red daisy-like flowers (to 5” diameter) with untoothed red rays and yellowish centers appear singly above the foliage mound on slender self-supporting stems to 12-18” tall. Long late spring to late summer bloom period that sometimes extends to first frost. Shearing plants in mid-summer (early August) when bloom usually tapers down will encourage a fall rebloom. Palmately 3-parted leaves with thread-like segments lend a fine-textured and airy appearance to the plant. Plants in the genus Coreopsis are sometimes commonly called tickseed in reference to the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. U.S. Plant Patent PP15,455 issued December 28, 200 Originally introduced as being quite winter hardy but has proven to be winter hardy only in the deep south.