Coreopsis Leading Lady™ Sophia – Tickseed

Discover Coreopsis Leading Lady™ Sophia, a standout perennial that illuminates your garden with continuous sunny yellow brilliance! From the Li’l Bang™ series, this variety is distinguished by its ability to bloom earlier and tirelessly, producing tubular yellow flowers that never set seed, thus ensuring an exceptionally long flowering period from late spring to early fall. Heat tolerant and mildew resistant, it’s the ideal companion for gardeners seeking an easy-care plant of lasting beauty.

Characteristics

• Foliage : The foliage is dark green, delicate, and finely cut, adding interesting texture to the garden and serving as a perfect backdrop for the flowers.
• Bloom : Produces an abundance of tubular yellow flowers that resemble semi-double daisies. Blooming is remarkably long, extending from June to September, and even beyond thanks to its lack of seed production and self-cleaning nature (no need to remove spent flowers).
• Light : Requires full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day) for optimal flowering and healthy development.
• Habit : Its habit is mounding, forming a compact and dense clump.
• Growth : Reaches a mature height of approximately 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 inches) and spreads 25 to 60 cm (10 to 24 inches). Its growth is moderate.
• Humidity : Requires average water needs. Although it is drought-tolerant once established, it will perform better with regular watering.
• Soil : Adapts to a variety of soils, but prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.1 – 7.3).
• Temperature : Extremely hardy, it is well-adapted to cold winters.
• Watering : Requires regular watering for best performance, but is drought-tolerant once established.

Uses

• Types of Use : Ideal for sunny borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and for adding structure and elegance to flower beds. It is also very effective in mass plantings for a strong visual impact.
• Decorative Advantages : Its sunny yellow flowers instantly illuminate the space, bringing vibrant and continuous colour throughout summer and fall. Its ability to attract butterflies and bees adds life to your garden, while its deer resistance makes it a reliable choice.

Care

• Fertilization : A light fertilization in spring with a balanced perennial fertilizer is generally sufficient.
• Pruning : Coreopsis 'Leading Lady™ Sophia' is self-cleaning, which reduces the need to remove spent flowers. However, removing spent flowers can potentially stimulate even longer blooming or reblooming. You can prune the plant after the main bloom to maintain its shape.
• Planting :
  • Distance : Space plants about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) apart to allow for good development and air circulation.
  • Depth : Plant the root ball at the same level as the soil in the original container.
  • Period : Spring or early fall are the best times for planting.