Easy-to-grow members of the sunflower family yielding a profusion of yellow, orange, maroon, or reddish flowers. Deadhead for longer bloom; use hedge shears to remove large numbers of spent blooms. Both annual and perennial kinds are easy to propagate—annuals from seed sown in place or in pots, perennials from seed or division. Plants tend to self-sow; seeds attract birds.

The species listed here are from the eastern and southern U.S. unless otherwise noted.

 

Coreopsis hybrid ‘Limerock Ruby’

Tender perennial grown as an annual. Grows to about 1 1/2 ft. tall and 2 1/2 ft. wide; forms a clump of fine-textured foliage similar to that of C. verticillata. Ruby red flowers to 1 in. across appear in late spring through summer. Needs a bit more water than most other types of Coreopsis.