If you want a drought tolerant hardy perennial that looks great check out a 'Moonbeam' coreopsis. 'Moonbeam' is one of the threadleaf varieties and is more drought tolerant because of those narrow needle-like leaves. The smaller surface area means that the leaves lose less water through transpiration than other varieties of coreopsis. It still has the massive profusion of blooms that is a common trait of most coreopsis plants. This perennial thrives in the sun in zones 3-9.
In my experience coreopsis is one of the easiest perennials to take care of in the garden. It grows very well and very easily from seed although 'Moonbeam' is sterile. If you want to keep the blooms growing throughout the season all you have to do is deadhead the spent blooms. In some cases coreopsis will flower so profusely that it is easier to cut back the whole plant for a repeat bloom. If it goes to seed it will finished blooming for the year even if it's cut back so it's best to prune the flowers right after they fade. I try to keep them cut back during the spring and summer for repeat blooms then allow them to go to seed at the end of the season to proliferate new plants.
My two 'Moonbeam' coreopsis plants have many more shoots than I expected coming from the root system. I haven't explored this option yet but I suspect that I can easily make a few small divisions and move a couple sprigs of this re-seeder to the self-sowing garden next to the border corridor garden.
Labels: flowers, perennial
