Coreopsis verticillata Ruby Red

Coreopsis verticillata 'Ruby Red', deserves a place in every garden. It combines a very long flowering period, with ruby red star-shaped flowers, from early summer to autumn, with a dark and contrasting foliage, made up of very thin leaves. Its compact habit, clean silhouette, undemanding nature and love for the sun make it suitable for well-exposed slopes and challenging conditions. It is also a remarkable perennial in a container and an excellent cut flower.

Coreopsis verticillata belongs to the Aster family. It is native to the plains of Central America, Mexico, and the southeastern United States. 'Ruby Red' is a cultivar selected for its rich coloured heads and compact habit. This rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with a woody base has a spreading tuft-forming habit, with numerous upright stems. It reaches a height of 50 cm (20in) with a spread of 40 cm (16in). The flowering starts as early as June and continues until autumn. The deep red flowers, measuring 3.5 cm (1in) in diameter, open from rounded buds and are arranged in whorls of 3 along the slender stems. It attracts many butterflies. The dark green deciduous foliage is composed of 6 cm (2in) long, finely divided linear leaflets. It remains healthy and attractive from spring to autumn. The plant slowly spreads through a tangle of thin, non-running rhizomes.

Coreopsis verticillata 'Ruby Red' is a versatile perennial. It will thrive in a rockery, on a sunny slope planted with wallflowers, love-in-a-mist, and wild flax, in a herbaceous border alongside Teucrium chamaedrys or x lucidrys, thyme, and cotton lavender. Its finely cut and delicate foliage will complement plants with stiffer foliage, such as daylilies, echinaceas, red hot pokers, or irises. This variety will also be the ideal companion for perennial plants, ornamental grasses, and ground cover roses. In a pot or container, this plant will flower continuously, starting from the first year. For beautiful summer blooms, it can be paired with Calamintha glandulosa and Nepeta 'Dawn to dusk' both in the ground and in a large container, with very little water. It is a lovely flower for summer bouquets, bringing a taste of sunshine indoors.