Coreopsis Sunstar Orange

The Coreopsis Sunstar Orange is a wonderful short-lived perennial, often grown as an annual. From early spring until the first frost, it dazzles with its incredible profusion of star-shaped flowers, dark red with a yellow edge. Compact and fast-growing, this variety will be an excellent choice for your front borders as well as in containers. Once established, it tolerates drought fairly well.

The Coreopsis Sunstar Orange, also known as "eye of a young girl" because of its central disc, belongs to the family Asteraceae (formerly called Composites). Coreopsis are native to North America, where they thrive in meadows and bright clearings. They are plants appreciated by gardeners for their very long flowering period, but also by pollinators as they are highly attractive to bees. For many years, horticulturists have hybridised several species together to multiply the colour variations. Among them, you can find Coreopsis rosea, C. verticillata and C. lanceolata. Most of the hybrids obtained are fast-growing plants that can disappear under the flowers within the first few weeks after planting, but they have a short lifespan. The star-shaped "flowers," typical of the Composite family, are actually inflorescences composed of dozens of flowers: the central ones, in tube form, are fertile; the outer ones, called ligulate, are sterile and serve as a lure for pollinators.
The Sunstar Orange variety is a beautiful compact plant that forms a round, well-homogeneous clump, reaching about 30 cm (11.8 in) in height and width. The flowers, produced abundantly between April (or even March) and October, have a deep red, garnet centre, enhanced by a margin of beautiful golden yellow. As they fade, the yellow becomes paler, creating lovely colour variations on the clump. The foliage is narrow and of a fairly shiny medium green colour.

Like many hybrid Coreopsis, Sunstar Orange is not a long-lasting plant: in mild climates, for example on the coast, it can sometimes live for 2 to 5 years. However, in most other regions, it will struggle to survive the winter, particularly due to its sensitivity to moisture. Therefore, in such cases, it should be considered as an annual. When planting it in borders or containers, use a light, fairly rich and well-drained soil. Once established, this Coreopsis can tolerate periods of drought. It is advisable to remove faded flowers as they appear to encourage continuous flowering. You can also cut back the clump after the first wave of flowers, and it will quickly start flowering again in the following weeks!

It will form beautiful combinations with Carex buchananii, Knapp's Carnation, or 'Beaujolais' Heuchera.

Note: Please be aware that our young plants in mini-pots are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame... ) at a temperature above 14 °C (57.2 in) for a few weeks before placing them outdoors once all risk of frost has definitively passed.