Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Uptick™ Gold & Bronze Coreopsis: A Warm Edging for Lavender
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Uptick™ Gold & Bronze coreopsis packs extra-large flowers, about 3 inches across, onto a compact, rounded mound only 12 to 14 inches tall. Each bloom has broad golden yellow petals with toothed tips and a wide bronze-red band around a small dark gold center, a color scheme that looks like late afternoon light.
It belongs to a line bred for bigger blooms and a longer season than older coreopsis, and it is happy in the same sunny, well-drained ground lavender loves.
Gold & Bronze at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Coreopsis UPTICK™ Gold & Bronze |
| Flowers | Golden yellow with a broad bronze-red center band, about 3 inches |
| Foliage | Medium green, lance-shaped |
| Size | 12 to 14 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
Why it works in front of lavender
Lavender mounds usually stand 18 inches to a few feet tall, which leaves a gap at their feet. A low coreopsis fills that gap without crowding. Gold & Bronze sits right at the front edge, its upward-facing flowers held a few inches above the leaves, and its warm gold and bronze glow against lavender's cool purple and silver.
It is also a good bloom-time partner. Coreopsis opens in late June as lavender comes into color, then keeps going after the lavender is cut, so the edge of the bed stays bright into late summer. Plant it in a ribbon along a path or in small groups of three between lavender plants, keeping a little space so air can move around each lavender mound. Plan it in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun. More sun means more flowers.
- Soil: average and well drained. Wet winter soil, not cold, is the main cause of loss.
- Water: regularly while it establishes, then only in long dry spells.
- Deadheading: snip spent flowers or give the whole mound a light shear when it looks tired. This is what keeps it blooming all summer.
- Winter: leave the stems standing and cut back in spring when new growth shows.
It is generally trouble-free. Crowded clumps can pick up powdery mildew in muggy, still weather, and aster yellows occasionally distorts flowers; pull any plant with twisted, green-tinged blooms.
Pots and cut stems
Its compact size suits patio containers, where it pairs nicely with a potted lavender. The flowers cut well too, giving a short, sunny stem for small arrangements.
About the plug tray
Gold & Bronze is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a handy quantity for edging long beds or mass planting. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from the other Uptick colors?
Gold & Bronze has the warmest look, with golden petals and a wide bronze-red band. Red opens nearly solid dark red, and Yellow & Red is brighter yellow with a red eye.
Will it come back after a Michigan winter?
It is rated for zones 5 to 9 and is hardy in Michigan when the soil drains well.
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