Coreopsis Incredible! Swirl Seeds - Coreopsis tinctoria

The annual Coreopsis Incredible! Swirl is a tall, extremely floriferous variety that blooms throughout summer. This annual plant is one of the easiest to succeed with. Sown in spring, its flowering spreads from July to October in a multitude of inflorescences with a burgundy centre and white periphery. This colour contrast is perfectly highlighted by the beautiful, bright green foliage. Thriving in full sun and tolerating light shade, this Coreopsis grows in most soils and can even be cultivated in pots. Forming superb borders, it integrates easily into a varied flowerbed and provides colourful bouquets for the home.

Coreopsis is a member of the very large Asteraceae family, the second most important in the vegetable kingdom (after orchids) which includes over 23,000 species. It was formerly known as Compositae, because what are taken for flowers are actually inflorescences, typically composed of tubular flowers in the centre and ligulate ones on the periphery. The many ornamental, wild or cultivated genera that make up this group therefore all have familial resemblance, whether it be the humble Daisies, the imposing Sunflowers or the popular Dusty Miller.
The Coreopsis genus is native to North and South America, as well as Mexico. It is rich with about 80 species, divided into eleven botanical sections, including some annuals alongside the perennial Coreopsis abundantly planted in our gardens. Coreopsis tinctoria is one of them, whose natural range extends from Canadian Saskatchewan and Minnesota in the northern United States, to Louisiana, Texas and Arizona in the south. It forms clumps with erect and branching stems, reaching 1 m in height, with very narrow, 10 cm long leaves. Flowering from July, it produces heads 4 cm in diameter, forming a red heart bordered with bright yellow. Already very ornamental, the wild species has been the subject of multiple hybridisations to produce new horticultural varieties.
This is the case with Coreopsis x tinctoria 'Incredible! Swirl' which is a very floriferous selection, whose height in flower reaches 80 cm, or even a little more. The 35-40 cm wide clumps display the characteristic, very lanceolate, beautiful bright green leaves, which blend perfectly with the colours of the flowers. These bloom from late June to early July, depending on the region and renew themselves until October, thus ensuring the spectacle throughout summer. Admittedly, they are not very large, measuring approximately 2.5 cm in diameter only, but they catch the eye with their very contrasting colour combination. The petal-like ligulate flowers are burgundy from the base to half their length, while their tip turns abruptly white. The heart of the inflorescence, made up of tubular flowers, is a combination of dark burgundy red and golden, the colour of the stamen tips. Produced in abundance, the truly numerous inflorescences compose a beautiful harmony. Carried by the long floral stems, they undulate in the wind, thus creating an attractive, dynamic scene. Moreover, they are nectar-rich and attract bees and butterflies, thus promoting biodiversity in the garden.

The easy to sow and grow, annual Coreopsis Incredible! Swirl is the perfect beginner's plant, which produces great satisfaction for minimal effort. With rapid development, one year's sowing will enchant your garden all summer until autumn, while providing you with superb bouquets to decorate your interior. Accepting pot cultivation, this annual will thrive in light, well-drained soil, preferably in full sun. Place it in a varied flowerbed to provide flowers, alongside bushes and perennial plants, or create a seasonal flowerbed with other annuals. Ricinus could form the background, with its tall height and purplish palmate leaves, an ideal backdrop. Spider Plant 'White Queen' with its surprising shape and white flowers with spidery grace will coexist well with your Coreopsis, and for the border, choose low yellow-flowering annuals to create a vegetation gradient.