Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Gain')
Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Gain' offers airy texture and bright yellow summer flowers, thriving in full sun with low maintenance needs.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’, commonly known as Threadleaf coreopsis, is highly valued for its extremely fine, airy foliage and long-lasting bloom display. This compact cultivar produces masses of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers from early summer until frost, providing continuous color without demanding excessive care. Its delicate texture contrasts beautifully against coarser-leaved plants in the perennial border.
As a rhizomatous perennial, Threadleaf coreopsis forms dense, bushy clumps, making it a sturdy addition to sunny landscapes. It adapts exceptionally well to challenging garden locations, flourishing in hot, exposed sites where other perennials might struggle. Gardeners appreciate the low maintenance and robust drought tolerance of Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’.
This Tickseed variety is excellent for creating a light, textural feel in cottage or native plant gardens. Its ability to handle dry, poor soils combined with its tolerance for heat makes Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ a dependable choice for reliable summer performance across USDA Zones 4 through 9.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Threadleaf coreopsis in spring or fall, once frost danger has passed or before the severe winter cold arrives. The key to success for Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is location: ensure it receives full sun exposure and benefits from well-drained soil, as it thrives even in poor, sandy, or rocky media. Good drainage is critical; crown rot can occur if this plant sits in overly moist, heavy ground.
Water Threadleaf coreopsis consistently during its first growing season to establish a strong root system, but once established, it requires only dry to medium moisture. It possesses excellent drought tolerance, making it suitable for xeriscaping. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary due to its preference for leaner soils.
Maintenance is generally low. While prompt deadheading encourages more blooms, it can be tedious across large swaths of Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’. A more practical approach is shearing the entire plant in mid to late summer. This removes spent blooms and encourages a fresh flush of foliage and rebloom later in the season toward fall. Clumps can be divided in the spring if they become overcrowded.
Landscape Uses
Threadleaf coreopsis is highly versatile. Its medium height and airy habit make it an essential component for the front to middle of mixed perennial borders, providing textural contrast. The suggested use is to naturalize these plants, allowing them to spread gently via rhizomes in generous drifts for a soft, meadow-like effect.
Because of its tolerance for dryness and poor soil conditions, Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is an excellent choice for naturalized areas, native plant gardens, and relaxed cottage garden settings. It performs excellently in spots where the soil tends to bake out in the summer heat.
Design Tip: Pair the fine texture and bright yellow flowers of Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ with broad-leaved companions like Hostas (in shadier spots, though this prefers sun) or cone-flowers (Echinacea) and ornamental grasses for dynamic textural layering.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Coreopsis verticillata, commonly called threadleaf coreopsis or whorled coreopsis, is a rhizomatous perennial which typically grows in dense, bushy clumps to 1-3’ tall. Features yellow, daisy-like flowers (1-2” diameter) with yellow untoothed rays and yellow center disks. Flowers appear singly in loose clusters (cymes) in a profuse and lengthy late spring to late summer bloom. Shearing plants in mid-summer will promote a fall rebloom. Palmately 3-parted leaves with thread-like segments lend a fine-textured and airy appearance to the plant. 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. Specific epithet means having whorls in reference to the leaves. Plants in the genus Coreopsis are sometimes commonly called tickseed in reference to the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. ‘Golden Gain’ is a compact form of threadleaf coreopsis. It typically grows in a dense, bushy clump to 18” tall. Bright yellow, daisy-like flowers (1-2” diameter) with untoothed rays and darker yellow center disks appear singly in loose clusters (cymes) in a lengthy late spring to late summer bloom period which sometimes extends to first frost.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
Potential Problems
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is generally resistant to serious insect or disease issues, which contributes significantly to its low maintenance rating. However, watch for slugs and snails, especially when young or when conditions are damp.
The primary cultural problem to manage is plant habit; the stems tend to sprawl, particularly if the Threadleaf coreopsis is grown in overly moist or rich soils, undermining its tidy clumping habit. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent crown rot, especially during winter dormancy in wet climates. Uncommonly, fungal issues like botrytis, powdery mildew, or fungal spots may appear under high humidity, but these are rarely major threats to established plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Threadleaf coreopsis suitable for?
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is very adaptable, thriving in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ grow?
This compact Threadleaf coreopsis typically reaches a height between 1 to 1.5 feet tall, with a similar spread of 1 to 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Threadleaf coreopsis need?
This perennial requires full sun exposure to achieve its best habit and most abundant flowering.
When does Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ bloom?
It establishes a lengthy bloom period, typically beginning in June and continuing strongly through August, often extending coloration until the first frost if deadheaded or sheared.
Conclusion
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is an indispensable perennial for sunny borders due to its fine, bright green texture and exceptional toughness in dry, tough soils. This Threadleaf coreopsis variety offers reliable, cheerful yellow blooms across numerous seasons with minimal input from the gardener. Before planting, confirm that you can provide full sun and well-draining conditions to fully realize the low-maintenance potential of your Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’.
Propagation Tips
Propagation of Threadleaf coreopsis is straightforward, relying primarily on division or cuttings. Clumps may be successfully divided in the spring before new growth fully emerges; ensure each division has adequate roots to re-establish quickly. Alternatively, you can propagate new plants easily from stem cuttings taken during the growing season.
Cuttings root relatively well, providing a means to increase your stock or introduce new plants to different areas of the garden. While species plants can self-seed, relying on division or cuttings ensures you maintain the specific, desirable compact characteristics of the cultivar Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’.
Companion Planting
The dry soil tolerance and full sun requirements of Threadleaf coreopsis guide companion selection perfectly. Pair it with other drought-tolerant sun lovers such as Sedums, Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), or Yarrow (Achillea). These companions share similar cultural needs, meaning water and soil amendments will benefit all plants equally.
To maximize the visual impact, contrast the airy, almost hazy foliage of Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ with companions that possess bolder, heavier foliage or contrasting color flowers. Consider pairing the bright yellow flowers with deeper purples or blues from plants like Salvia or Catmint (Nepeta).
This combination of tough, low-water use plants creates a cohesive, colorful, and resilient dry garden or rock garden section that requires very little supplemental irrigation once established.
