Ear-leaved Tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata 'Zamphir')
Coreopsis auriculata 'Zamphir', or Ear-leaved tickseed, offers low-maintenance, orange-yellow spring blooms in zones 4-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’, commonly known as Ear-leaved tickseed, is a valuable, compact selection prized for its vibrant coloration and relatively easy care. This herbaceous perennial forms a bushy, slowly-spreading clump, making it an excellent choice for filling spaces reliably in the sunny garden. Gardeners appreciate the continuous display provided by this tickseed cultivar, which, with light effort, offers cheerful color from late spring into mid-summer.
Distinguishing itself from other varieties, Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ features uniquely fluted, orange-yellow, daisy-like flowers atop sturdy stalks. While native to the open woods of the southeastern U.S., this cultivar performs admirably across a wide temperature range in USDA Zones 4 through 9. Its stoloniferous nature means that while it spreads slowly to form attractive colonies, maintenance to keep it contained is minimal.
For gardeners seeking low-effort color, the Ear-leaved tickseed provides a brilliant addition to perennial borders or naturalized wildflower areas. Its tolerance for dry soil and deer resistance further solidify its reputation as a practical and beautiful landscape component. Utilizing Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ ensures season-long cheer without demanding excessive attention.
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: May to July
- Bloom Description: Orange-yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant this stoloniferous perennial in the spring or fall after the last hard frost, ensuring it receives full sun exposure for the best flowering. Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ thrives in well-drained soil with medium moisture levels. While it handles some dry conditions and humidity well, consistency in watering, especially during establishment, is important; it is not as drought-tolerant as some other Coreopsis relatives.
Maintenance for the Ear-leaved tickseed is generally low. The most critical task is regular deadheading of spent flower stalks, which encourages a more consistent bloom period extending through July. Be aware that deadheading a very large planting can become tedious, but the reward is prolonged floral display.
To revitalize the clump and encourage a secondary flush of blooms, gardeners can shear the plants back moderately in mid-summer. This shearing removes any unkempt or sprawling foliage and often promotes fall reblooming once summer heat moderates. Clumps can be easily divided during the spring to propagate new plants, and this cultivar reportedly can also be grown from seed.
Landscape Uses
The long bloom period and bright, showy flowers make Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ exceptionally effective for providing continuous color accents. It performs well when naturalized, allowing its slow, spreading habit to create soft, informal colonies in meadows or open woodlands. The vibrant orange-yellow blooms stand out nicely against deeper green foliage throughout the season.
For more structured settings, mass plantings of Ear-leaved tickseed look effective along walkways or borders due to their tidy, low-growing stature. They pair wonderfully with other sun-loving perennials that share similar soil and water requirements, such as Coneflowers (Echinacea) or Shasta Daisies. Since this variety is stoloniferous, planting it in groups or masses helps to achieve a fuller, more cohesive impact quickly.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Coreopsis auriculata, commonly called lobed tickseed or mouse ear coreopsis, is a stoloniferous, short-lived, herbaceous perennial that typically grows in a dense, bushy, slowly-spreading clump to 12-18” tall. It is native to open woods in the southeastern U.S. From Virginia to Florida and Mississippi. Mostly basal, hairy, petioled, ovate to elliptic leaves (to 3” long) are deep green. Each leaf has a distinctive pair of small lateral lobes at the base of the blade which resemble the shape of mouse ears, hence the sometimes used common name of mouse ear coreopsis for this plant. Daisy-like flowers (to 2” wide) have 8 yellow rays (each having a three-lobed apex) surrounding a yellow center disk. Flowers bloom primarily from April to June atop upright flower stalks rising 18” tall. A sparse and intermittent rebloom may continue throughout the summer into fall if spent flowers are regularly deadheaded. In hot summer climates like the St. Louis area, plants usually stop blooming in mid-summer with a small rebloom sometimes occurring in fall after temperatures moderate.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 comes from the Latin ariculatus meaning having an ear-like appendage in obvious reference to the ear-like lobes at the base of each leaf.‘Zamphir’ is a compact selection that typically grows to 10-15” tall. It is distinguished from other cultivars of this species by the uniquely-fluted orange-yellow petals on its 2-inch diameter daisy-like flowers
Tolerances
- Deer
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ is generally robust and low maintenance, though it can suffer if drainage is poor, which can lead to root rot in overly wet conditions. While somewhat tolerant of dryness once established, prolonged drought combined with intense heat can cause flowering to cease prematurely or foliage to look sparse. Ensure good air circulation, especially in humid climates, to help prevent fungal issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Ear-leaved tickseed suitable for?
Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ is suitable for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Ear-leaved tickseed grow?
This compact selection typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with a comparable spread of 1 to 1.5 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ need?
For best results and maximum bloom production, this plant requires full sun exposure in the landscape.
When does Ear-leaved tickseed bloom?
The primary bloom time for Ear-leaved tickseed is from May to July, producing distinctive orange-yellow flowers.
Conclusion
The Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ provides outstanding visual impact with minimal gardener input, especially valued for its vibrant orange-yellow summer show and reliable hardiness across zones 4 to 9. By utilizing this compact Ear-leaved tickseed in your sunny spots and committing to light deadheading, you ensure a season of cheerful, low-maintenance beauty. Check your local climate suitability before planning your spring planting for this fantastic perennial.
Propagation Tips
Division is the easiest method for increasing your stock of Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’. Perform this task in the spring before new growth becomes too vigorous. Gently dig up the entire clump and carefully separate smaller rooted sections from the main mass, ensuring each division has a healthy portion of roots and crown. Replant these divisions immediately into prepared soil at the same depth they were originally growing.
While division works well for maintained patches, ‘Zamfir’ is also reportedly capable of being grown from seed. Starting seeds indoors under controlled conditions may yield better germination rates than direct sowing, allowing you to establish several new plants simultaneously. Regardless of the propagation method chosen, remember that the stoloniferous nature of this tickseed means it will slowly colonize areas if left undisturbed.
Design Ideas
Massing Coreopsis auriculata ‘Zamphir’ along the front edges of a sunny border creates a vibrant, low-lying ribbon of color that lasts for months. Because of its relatively short stature (1 to 1.5 feet), avoid placing it where it will be shaded by taller, late-season bloomers. It serves perfectly as a front-of-border filler where its orange-yellow tones can contrast dramatically against silver foliage plants or darker purple companions.
Consider pairing this durable perennial with other deer-tolerant, sun-loving species that don’t require constant moisture. Good partners include Sedum (Stonecrop), certain varieties of Salvia, or Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), which harmonize culturally and provide textural contrast. The ability of the Ear-leaved tickseed to naturalize makes it ideal for transition zones between manicured beds and wilder, informal acreage.
