Name: Coreopsis ‘Redshift’, Tickseed
Zones: 4a – 8b
Size: 24- 36-inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun, drought tolerant, suitable for xeriscaping.
The unfortunate common name may scare you away, but don’t let it. There are any number of reasons a plant receives a certain common name. In today’s marketing, clever names are often given, particularly when naming cultivars.
When the name for Coreopsis was given, it was based on the look of the seed, not the beauty of the flower. Coreopsis was named from the Greek words koris meaning “flea” (bedbug), and opsis meaning “resembling”–Coreopsis was named such because the case that holds the seed (the achene) resembles a flea.
Thank goodness cultivars allow for an opportunity to give a positive shift in naming.
Coreopsis ‘Redshift’ is an introduction by Darrell Prodst. Older cultivars tended to have cream, yellow, or orange flowers. A color break lead to a red. ‘Redshift’ was so named from this shifting, or break in colors.
I grow Coreopsis ‘Redshift’ in my Raleigh garden, Helen’s Haven with great success. I grow several varieties of Coreopsis, but I was lured in by the red. I continue to admire this native cultivar for the red against yellow, and because it will bloom from early summer well into the fall. Coreopsis ‘Redshift‘ is also frequently visited by butterflies, adding even more color (and movement) to my garden. ‘Redshift‘ also makes a great cut flower that can enjoy inside as well.
Have you had a shift in your appreciation of yellow-only Coreopsis? I hope so. Adding a splash of red to a hot garden adds character to any garden.
By: Helen Yoest
The TarHeelGardening blog is published and edited by Helen Yoest. For more information on Tarheel Gardening, please visit our website at Tarheel Gardening - your online resource for North Carolina gardening enthusiasts.
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