Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Moonbeam Threadleaf Coreopsis: The Classic Soft Yellow for Lavender
Save
Moonbeam threadleaf coreopsis is a garden classic for good reason. Its pale lemon-yellow daisies, about an inch across, float in waves over an airy clump of needle-fine foliage from early through late summer. The color is so soft it blends with nearly everything, and it is easy enough for beginners and busy gardeners alike.
Pale yellow and lavender purple is one of the most reliable pairings in any sunny garden, and Moonbeam is the yellow most people reach for.
Moonbeam at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Anacis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (long sold as Coreopsis verticillata) |
| Flowers | Pale lemon yellow, 1 to 1.5 inches, eight notched petals |
| Foliage | Very fine, needle-like, medium green |
| Size | 12 to 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
Why it is a natural with lavender
Moonbeam and lavender want exactly the same things: full sun, lean soil, good drainage and not much water once settled. That makes it one of the few companions you can plant right in the lavender bed without compromise. Its bloom starts in late June, overlapping the main English lavender flush, and keeps going in waves after the lavender is harvested.
The textures work too. Lavender is upright and silver; Moonbeam is a low, hazy cloud of fine green. Use it along the front edge of a lavender bed or in drifts between lavender plants, keeping about a foot of breathing room around each lavender mound. Plan the drifts in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to lean and well drained. It dislikes wet winter soil, just like lavender.
- Water: regular watering the first season, then only in long dry spells.
- Feeding: none needed. Rich soil makes it sprawl.
- Shearing: after the first big flush, shear the whole plant back by about a third. Fresh buds follow within a few weeks.
- Dividing: if the center thins after a few years, lift and divide in spring.
Shearing, not deadheading
The flowers are too small and numerous to pick off one by one, and life is short. A pair of hedge shears or grass clippers does the job in a minute: take off the top third of the clump, spent flowers and all. It is the same quick, rhythmic trim you give lavender after harvest, so you can do both on the same afternoon.
The plug tray format
Moonbeam is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a good size for growers and anyone edging a long lavender border. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the botanical name different from what I expected?
Threadleaf coreopsis has long been sold as Coreopsis verticillata. Some references now list it as Anacis verticillata. It is the same plant.
Does Moonbeam attract pollinators?
Yes, its open daisies are easy for bees and other small pollinators to visit, which suits a lavender garden that is already busy with them.
Will deer eat it?
It is rated deer resistant, another trait it shares with lavender.
Share how it went in your field