Tickseed (Coreopsis rosea 'Sweet Dreams')

Overview

Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ is a standout variety of Tickseed, prized for its unique, richly colored, daisy-like flowers that appear profusely throughout the summer months. This herbaceous perennial brings a fine, airy texture to the garden due to its whorled, linear leaves, complementing its decorative raspberry-and-white blooms. Unlike some of its hardier relatives, this cultivar demands consistent moisture, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in cooler summer climates seeking reliable, long-season color.

This particular Tickseed creates dense, bushy clumps, forming excellent ground cover when allowed to spread gently by rhizomes and self-seeding. While native to wet sandy plains, gardeners find Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ relatively easy to manage, providing many weeks of visual interest from June into August. Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with bold-leaved plants, offering an airy, cottage-garden aesthetic.

The cultivar ‘Sweet Dreams’ is genetically distinct and offers a more vibrant bloom palette than some standard pink forms of Coreopsis rosea. Gardeners must manage its moisture needs carefully, as it tolerates less drought than standard tickseeds, yet thrives with low overall maintenance when its location is established correctly.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Asteraceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 1-2 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: Raspberry and white (bicolor) with yellow anther
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ in the spring or fall once the danger of hard frost has passed. Location selection is key: this plant requires full sun exposure to produce the best bloom set. While it is generally easy to grow, unlike many other Coreopsis species, this Pink Tickseed has very little drought tolerance and needs consistently moist, well-drained soil to thrive throughout the season. Ensure you avoid heavy clay soils that remain perpetually waterlogged, as this can quickly lead to crown rot.

Watering should be maintained consistently throughout the growing season to keep the soil moist, especially during hot, dry spells, which this variety does not handle as gracefully as heat-tolerant tickseeds. Fertilization is generally unnecessary; rich soil often encourages weak stems that sprawl or mat, a common issue particularly in humid climates with heavy summer rain.

Maintenance is low, though some effort in deadheading spent flowers can be beneficial for encouraging repeat blooms and managing self-seeding. For a tidy appearance late in the season, the entire clump can be sheared back in late summer to promote fresh growth and a possible fall rebloom. When sited properly in cool summer regions, Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ will perform exceptionally well.

Landscape Uses

The long summer bloom period and the fine, airy texture of the foliage make this Tickseed an excellent choice for softening borders and adding dynamism to rock gardens. Because of its manageable height (1 to 1.5 ft) and spread, Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ functions perfectly as an effective edger along walkways, foundations, or the front of perennial beds. Experienced gardeners often naturalize clusters of this variety to create drifts of color, mimicking its native habitat preference for open, moist ground.

Consider pairing this plant with those that share similar medium water needs and can tolerate a slightly cooler microclimate, such as Japanese Iris or Astilbe situated where morning sun dominates. These textural contrasts—fine foliage against broad leaves—make for sophisticated cottage or perennial garden designs. Its ability to form dense ground cover also makes it valuable for suppressing weeds in naturalized areas or native plant groupings.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Coreopsis rosea, sometimes commonly called pink coreopsis or pink threadleaf coreopsis, is primarily native to wet sandy soils along water margins in coastal plain areas from Nova Scotia to Maryland. It is noted for being the only coreopsis with pink flowers, although ‘Sweet Dreams’ displays striking raspberry-white bicolor flowers that are 1–1.5 inches in diameter. While it resembles C. Verticillata in habit, it lacks the latter’s heat and drought tolerance, thriving best in cooler summer conditions where its fine-textured, dark green leaves provide an airy backdrop for its profuse summer bloom.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

This cultivar rarely suffers from serious insect or disease issues, provided root health is maintained. The primary concern is crown rot, which occurs if the plant is situated in constantly moist, poorly drained soils, especially heavy clay. Furthermore, Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ performs best in cooler summer climates; in the hot, humid conditions of the deep South, flowering can be sparse, and the plant may appear scraggly. Stems tend to sprawl and mat, especially after heavy summer rains, so ensuring good air circulation and moderate fertility helps manage this tendency. Can be an aggressive self-seeder and spreader if left unchecked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Tickseed suitable for?

Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ Tickseed is suitable for USDA Zones 4 through 9.

How large does Tickseed grow?

This perennial typically reaches a mature height of 1 to 1.5 feet tall with a spread ranging from 1 to 2 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ need?

This variety requires a location that receives full sun exposure for the best performance and flowering.

When does Tickseed bloom?

The prolific bloom time for this Tickseed is generally from June through August, featuring beautiful raspberry and white bicolor flowers with yellow anthers.

Conclusion

Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ adds significant value to the garden through its long bloom period of uniquely hued, raspberry-and-white flowers and its fine, delicate foliage texture. For a consistently vibrant display, remember that this Tickseed variety needs reliably moist conditions, unlike many other coreopsis. Before planting, verify your site conditions to ensure you can meet its medium water requirement in full sun, which will reward you with low maintenance beauty all summer long.

Companion Planting

When selecting companions for Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’, prioritizing plants that enjoy similar moisture levels is crucial. Since this Tickseed struggles in heat and drought, place it near moisture-loving companions like Ferns, Ligularia, or Lobelia in areas that receive afternoon shade to mitigate the summer heat stress that can cause legginess. For sunny, moist borders, consider pairing it with plants that benefit from its airy texture, such as Siberian Iris or taller Veronicastrum, creating rich layers of color and form that last through the peak summer months.

Design Ideas for Fine Texture

The delicate, thread-like leaves of Coreopsis rosea ‘Sweet Dreams’ make it an essential tool for adding contrast in formal or informal borders. Use this texture to interrupt and balance bold plantings, such as Hostas or Peonies, preventing the garden mass from looking too heavy or solid. Plant it in drifts, following the suggested use for naturalizing, so the individual plants merge into a delicate cloud of pink and white. This softness also works wonderfully in the foreground of a cottage garden scheme where a slightly wild, yet controlled, appearance is desired.