swamp tickseed Interesting Notes

Bright clear yellow flowers with dark centers grab your attention for Coreopsis palustris ‘Summer Sunshine’. A late season bloomer supplying essential nectar to pollinators while other wildflowers are closing up shop, this Coreopsis was the highest rated in Mt. Cuba Center’s Coreopsis Trials. Superior performance in long lasting bloom time and disease resistance, this plant received a perfect rating. ‘Summer Sunshine’ grows about 3’ tall and has shiny deep green foliage that is tidy and disease-free and then is covered in blooms for over six weeks in late summer.

Coreopsis palustris is originally from the pine savannas of North Carolina tolerates heat, humidity, and hydric soil conditions. Preferring full sun, it grows slowly at 2’ every three years by rhizome. This plant can take a range of soil conditions including heavy clay soils.

The cultivar ‘Summer Sunshine’ does much better in garden conditions – the straight species can be ravaged by disease pressure and defoliated by September while the cultivar remains pristine and in full bloom. In our own trial, we found Coreopsis palustris 'Summer Sunshine' to grow well in containers and hold up to close inspection of the leaves to usual pest and disease damage. The blooms really stand out with their golden yellow coloring and dark centers. Coreopsis species support over 40 different species of insects including some predatory insects which are essential for a strong garden ecosystem.

Good Substitutions

Coreopsis 'Gilded Lace'