From butter yellow with a red center to a deep burgundy, Coreopsis Big Bang™ 'Redshift' has been changing faces in my garden all summer. This coreopsis influenced my decision to redesign an area of the butterfly garden around the colors of blue, yellow and burgundy.
Out with my camera this morning to photograph (and document) my redesign, I noticed that the coreopsis was showing three colors on one plant. I haven't deadheaded this coreopsis since I planted it, so all of these non-stop blooms have been happening on their own.
The coreopsis has been reliably upright until recently when the abundance of blooms weighed down some of the stems. I think I'll give it a few light trims along the sides next year. I like the height of 24-30 inches so that I don't have to use this coreopsis along the front of the border.
The 'Redshift' is said to bloom July through September, but I'm sure that is for colder zones as mine have been blooming since planted in June and they are still blooming for November! The location is very sunny, with east and south sunbeams most of the day.
The deer haven't touched the coreopsis though their hoof prints indicate that they are responsible for breaking a few stems while they trudge through to reach our manmade stream for water at night.
As mentioned before, this coreopsis influenced the overall color theme and companion plantings for this redesign, but I'm now calling this section "done" until I see the results next spring and summer!
To recap the redesign:
Seeds of annual salvia farcinacea 'blue bedder', nigella 'Miss Jekyll', larkspur 'Galilee Blue' and 'Blue Spire' as well as cornflower 'Blue Boy' have now been sown around the perennials to provide spring blooms.
More seeds for the perennial gaillardia 'Burgundy' were added since I have only three plants there right now. Seeds for perennial gaillardia 'Yellow Queen' were also sown to provide more yellow with the blue and burgundy.
Other perennials include achillea and another coreopsis variety for more yellow, agastache 'Blue Fortune', nepeta 'Walker's Low' and dark red salvia greggii.
Dutch irises in blue/yellow and iris pallida (blue blooms and variegated foliage) were relocated to this area, too. I noticed a lot of the Dutch irises around my gardens are sprouting already! They won't bloom until April, so I suppose they are loving our weather.
For the next week, we'll have fabulous warm sunny weather with little rain which is great for gardeners, but too warm and dry for seeds! Everyday for the next week or so, I will mist all the seeded areas to prevent them from drying out. A time-consuming activity, but well worth the efforts to increase the germination success rate.
As for the coreopsis, I want to see just how much longer they will bloom with a freeze expected for Thursday night!
Very pretty colors together... I LOVE coreopsis but haven't mastered keeping them blooming. They fizzled out fast for me this summer. I'll keep trying as they are such a pretty little flower. You have got the "flowers" thing figured to a science!
ReplyDeleteMeems
I so agree with meems! You have the flower thing figured out. Now tell us how to keep coreopsis blooming, too. gail
ReplyDeleteI've not seen a coreopsis like this before. I love larkspur and nigella and just bought seeds today on E-bay.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting array of colors to redesign a garden around Cameron. :) I've never had much luck with any of the Coreopsis, they seem to be short-lived perennials here.
ReplyDeleteCoreopsis can be tricky. I've had several that wouldn't overwinter here. I have zagreb that blooms like crazy, then the foliage goes black. I have 'Creme Brulee' that requires cut back after the first bloom, but then does nothing.
ReplyDeleteI have high hopes for Redshift. I bought large pots at our local Southern States farm supply store back in June and those are what are doing great.
There are also three other coreopsis in my garden that I've not mentioned because I'm conducting overwintering trials for another coreopsis breeder who sent me free plants in September.
As for overwintering coreopsis -- DO NOT cut them back.
I Cameron, that is a beauty and the seed sowing is such a good and thrift way to fill in the beds. We have sown many ourselves, hope a few will germinate and grow on. We bought redshift summer before last and kept in in a container until last winter when it was divided and planted by the deciduous azaleas. It bloomed some, but maybe needs to grow larger to make itself show up among the matrona sedums. Or maybe needs some manure. Or the sedums needs to be moved. Or all of the above. Sunny days for here too, and the bulb order for the lawn fans arrived last night. Hooray! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
that should be Hi Cameron, not I Cameron. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteThat Coreopsis is really pretty great. Long performer and various colors...super!! I am waiting to scatter my poppy seeds until a little closer to Thanksgiving, which will be here before I know it!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the photos and this is a coreopsis I've never seen. Next year I will try to find it and give it a trial here. The colors are very unusual.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I used to see a yellow one. I love these colors more!
ReplyDeleteThose coreopsis are glorious! I've seen so many of them on people's blogs that I've gone and bought myself some seeds - but it's rained ever since! :(
ReplyDeleteAnother fabulous day for garden work here. I think I'm down to a few clean-up chores and one more seed-sowing project in a cleared area between the driveway and guest parking. More about that on another story.
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