Tickseed (Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee')
Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' Tickseed offers vigorous, low-maintenance color from June to October in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, often referred to as Tickseed, cherished for its season-long performance and resilient nature. This cultivar distinguishes itself by offering deeper yellow flowers on larger, more robust plants compared to its predecessors. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance profile, thriving even under challenging summer conditions.
This threadleaf-type Tickseed forms dense, bushy clumps reaching up to 20 inches tall, displaying cheerful, butter-yellow, daisy-like flowers continuously from early summer through autumn frost. Cultivating Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ ensures a bright, cheerful display in borders and naturalized settings with minimal effort.
It excels in full sun and tolerates dry conditions once established, making it an excellent choice for sunny borders, rock gardens, or areas where water conservation is a priority. The bright green, lacy foliage provides continuous texture even when not in full bloom.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-3 ft
- Bloom Time: June to October
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ should be planted in spring or fall once risks of hard frost have passed, choosing a location that receives full sun exposure daily for the best flowering display. This plant requires easily grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils; avoid heavy, soggy conditions which can lead to crown rot.
Water sparingly after initial planting to establish the root system; established plants demonstrate good drought tolerance. Fertilization is generally unnecessary; rich soil often encourages excessive vegetative growth at the expense of blooms.
Routine care involves light pruning. Plants may be sheared in mid to late summer to remove any sprawling or unkempt foliage and to encourage a strong fall rebloom. Clumps may spread slightly by rhizomes, and division is easily accomplished in the spring every 2-3 years if the plant needs revitalization in formal settings.
Landscape Uses
The versatility of Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ lends itself well to diverse landscape applications. It is superb when used along border fronts or as sidewalk edgings where its controlled, bushy habit provides neat structure. Due to its tolerance for poor, dry soils, it is an excellent selection for naturalized areas, wild gardens, or cottage gardens seeking cheerful, long-blooming color.
For patio containers, the Tickseed provides a bright, sun-loving accent, mixing well with shorter annuals or contrasting foliage plants. When used in mass plantings for naturalizing, its spread of 1 to 3 feet allows for good coverage while maintaining a tidy appearance, especially in areas receiving full, intense summer sun.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Coreopsis is a genus of between 75-80 species from North America, Mexico, Central and South America.The genus name comes from the Greek words koris meaning “bug” and opsis meaning “like” in reference to the shape of the seed which resembles a bug or tick.‘Crème Brulee’ is a yellow-flowered coreopsis (tickseed) that is being promoted as an improved version of C. Verticillata ‘Moonbeam’. It was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of ‘Moonbeam’, and reportedly is distinguished therefrom by having deeper yellow flowers on larger inflorescences on a more vigorous plant clad with brighter green leaves displaying better resistance to powdery mildew. This is a threadleaf-type that typically grows in dense, bushy clumps to 12-20” tall eventually spreading to 35” wide. Butter-yellow daisy-like flowers (to 1” diameter) with toothed rays and darker yellow center disks bloom profusely from June to October. Lacy deep green leaves.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
Crown rot may occur if grown in moist, poorly drained soils, making drainage essential for long-term health of Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’. Uncommon diseases include botrytis, aster yellows, powdery mildew and fungal spots, though the foliage of this specific cultivar reportedly has good resistance to powdery mildew. Plant stems tend to sprawl, particularly in hot and humid climates combined with periodic heavy summer rainfall, so shearing in mid-summer helps manage the plant shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Tickseed suitable for?
Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ is best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet and spreads moderately, achieving a spread of 1 to 3 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Tickseed need?
For optimal performance, Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Tickseed bloom?
This variety offers reliably bright yellow blooms during the long season spanning from June all the way through October.
Conclusion
Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ provides exceptional, long-lasting value through its prolific yellow blooms and remarkable tolerance for dry, sunny conditions. This improved Tickseed variety brings vigor and disease resistance to the sunny garden border. Ensure you plant Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ in well-draining soil within zones 5-9 for a season of effortless, vibrant color.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate companions helps unify garden design and manage microclimates. Since Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ prefers dry to medium moisture and full sun, pair it with other drought-tolerant, sun-loving perennials. Good partners include Lavender (Lavandula), Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), or low-growing Sedums, which share similar soil and water preferences, preventing overwatering common near moisture-loving plants.
Avoid placing Tickseed directly next to plants that require consistently moist ground, as this will compromise the well-drained environment critical for preventing root issues in the Coreopsis. The fine texture of the threadleaf foliage complements plants with broader, bolder leaves, creating textural contrast in the perennial border.
Propagation Tips
While reseeding will not occur for this hybrid, propagation of Coreopsis ‘Creme Brulee’ is best achieved through division. Clumps may be divided successfully in the early spring before new growth hardens off, allowing the pieces to establish quickly in their new locations.
Division rejuvenates older clumps which may become woody at the center, improving overall vigor and bloom quality. Ensure each divided section—whether by dividing the root mass or taking side shoots—has a healthy set of roots and several growing points attached.
If you wish to propagate specifically to retain the characteristics of ‘Crème Brulee’, vegetative propagation or division is necessary, as this plant resulted from a specific mutation and may not come true from seed if attempted.
