Coreopsis tripteris

Coreopsis tripteris, or Golden Crown, is a vibrant herbaceous perennial that blooms with tiny, bright yellow daisies with dark hearts during summer. This plant is ideal for natural or wild areas and pairs well with other tall and slightly unruly plants and grasses. Its foliage turns a beautiful purple hue in autumn.

Native to North America, the Coreopsis tripteris belongs to the Asteraceae family and grows in moist habitats such as riverbanks and wet meadows. When in flower, this vigorous plant can easily reach a height of 1.80 metres (6 feet) with a spread of 60 cm (24in). Its flowering period occurs from July to September, with the heads carried by long light green stems. The flowers emit an anise scent when crushed.

This plant prefers full sun, light, porous, well-drained soil and tolerates slightly acidic, neutral or slightly chalky soil. Repeat flowering is encouraged by removing faded flowers, particularly at the end of August.

The Coreopsis tripteris is a versatile plant that can be used in various ways. It can thrive in a cool rock garden, on a barren slope with wallflowers, love-in-a-mist and wild flax, at the edge of a water feature in the company of turtlehead, sneezeweed and switchgrass. For a beautiful flowering summer, it can be planted in the ground with a little water and paired with calamint and 'Dawn to Dusk' Nepeta. It is also an excellent choice for the back of a border, to be used with exotic-looking plants such as bamboo, Hedychium, and tall cannas in fresh and rich but well-drained soil. Additionally, it can be used as a lovely flower for summer bouquets, bringing a little sunshine into the house.