Coreopsis 'SOLAR FANCY' tickseed, coreopsis

Solar Fancy is a rather unexpected hybrid tickseed variety from the Solar series bred by Marco van Noort from the Netherlands. All others shine like little suns but Solar Ruby wears velvety ruby red margined with pale vanilla yellow which makes it look like a red carpet star in its afternoon cocktail frock in Cannes. The flowers are large, single, daisy-like and come out in abundance from June until the first frost. Stems are about 20-30 cm tall, upright, and strong enough not to bend. The plant makes a dense, compact, and rather wide tuft. Leaves are medium green, narrowly lance-shaped. Flowers are mostly sterile which prevents the plant from self-seeding.

Tickseed will grow in nearly any free-draining soil, and as it withstands drought it is popular for rockeries. Making it a glowing feature in your perennial bed is the reasonable and expected way of using it. But placing it among small shrubs with different foliage and flowers will mean an honour for this easy and affordable beauty. Deadheading will make the plant nicer and bring forward formation of new flower buds but is not necessary. Fully hardy to about -29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 12-10-2021