Designer Threads™ Golden Needles Coreopsis

Golden Needles Coreopsis is the latest release in the Designer Threads™ collection of Coreopsis. Golden Needles has all of the good looks of classic tickseed while being exceptionally tolerant of mildew. The bright sunny flowers have a clean maroon center to add depth to this broadly petaled perennial. Its threadlike foliage adds fine texture to a space, and the flowers draw in beneficial pollinators. 

Coreopsis makes a great addition to established pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, or other naturalized spots in your landscape. The straight stems are good for cut flowers and dried flower arrangements. Plant a few of these herbaceous perennials near a kitchen garden to lure pollinators and boost your edible produce yields. The compact and mounded shape of Golden Needles works well as a filler plant for seasonal mixed containers or even hanging baskets and window boxes, producing many weeks of color. Use Coreopsis as a medium-height ground cover in areas with moderate to high deer browsing. Any damage from the deer will quickly grow back.

Designer Threads™ Golden Needles Coreopsis Care

Coreopsis is probably the easiest perennial to grow. This plant seems to grow itself. Choose a location in full sun. At least 6 hours of direct sun will guarantee the best flowering and color. Well-drained soil of any pH supports vigorous growth. 

Apply a granular, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as the new shoots appear. Mulch with an organic material like finely shredded arborist chips or leaves to help suppress weed growth and aid in moisture retention. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses will help to keep the foliage dry while directing water to the root area. 

Traditional deadheading of each spent flower is not needed. Instead, encourage a second (or third or fourth) flush of blooms by shearing the plants back by half as the first flush of blooms begins to die. This spurs another round of bushy growth and many more flowers. 

All top growth dies back to the soil after a hard freeze. Annual clean-up of Coreopsis is best done in the spring as the new growth just starts to peek through. Leaving the spent growth over the winter helps to mark the plant and protect it from accidental damage. 

Designer Threads™ Golden Needles Coreopsis Spacing

Plant each Coreopsis 20-22 inches apart in a garden border. The plant will reach a height and spread of at least 20 inches. Coreopsis grows well in containers with at least a 12-inch diameter for a single plant.