Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
A mass of sulphur-yellow daisies above delicate, dark, filigree foliage make Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ an eye-catching and attractive addition to any garden. View our new AGM Borders at Wisley and you’ll be dazzled by the beautiful collection of shrubs, perennials and annuals here, where ‘Moonbeam’ and the darker yellow ‘Zagreb’ fill the front of the borders.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Whorled tickseed ‘Moonbeam’
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Height & spread
- 50cm (18in) high and 90cm (36in) wide
- Form
- Herbaceous perennial
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained moderately fertile
- Aspect
- Full sun or partial shade
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Coreopsis
There are about 114 species of Coreopsis which can be annuals or short-lived perennials and have long-stalked, daisy-like flower-heads. They come from North and South America with most cultivars raised in the USA.
Most species bear flowerheads with a small central disc surrounded by eight ray florets, often yellow, but sometimes mahogany, red, white or pink. These are borne singly or on branched stems.
An increasing number of cultivars are intended to be raised as first-year flowering perennials from seed, but for some the results can be variable, so vegetative propagation is necessary in some cases.
The common name tickseed is from the Greek koris a bug and opsis, meaning like because the seed (cypsela) of these plants looks like a bug or a tick.
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
'Moonbeam' is a compact perennial with finely divided leaves and light lemon-yellow, single daisy-like flower-heads in summer, up to 4cm across. It is comparatively long-lived. One of the key attractions of this species is the airy foliage which is finely divided, almost feathery. It likes full sun but tolerates some shade.
‘Moonbeam’ was selected by British plantsman Bill Archer and chosen as Perennial Plant Association Perennial of the Year 1992.
It is one of the plants recommended on the RHS Perfect for Pollinators list.
Cultivation
- Grow in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
- Dead head throughout the season to prolong flowering.
- Cut right back in late autumn.
- Slugs and snails may be a problem.
Propagation
- Divide in early spring, or root basal cuttings in spring.
- Sow seeds in late winter at 13-16°C but seeds of this cultivar will show variability from the parent.
AGM
The RHS Floral Trials Subcommittee awarded Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
'Very floriferous, pale yellow starry flowers which almost hide the feathery dark foliage. Flowers over long period. Beware of seed-raised plants when buying this cultivar.'