Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Uptick™ Yellow & Red Coreopsis: Sunny Faces with a Red Eye
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Uptick™ Yellow & Red coreopsis is the cheerful one. Its large flowers, 2.5 to 3 inches across, have broad sunny yellow petals with toothed tips and a dark red band at the base, like a bright face with a red eye. They sit above a tidy, rounded mound 12 to 14 inches tall and wide.
It shares lavender's preferences almost exactly: full sun, good drainage and not much fuss.
Yellow & Red at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Coreopsis UPTICK™ Yellow & Red |
| Flowers | Sunny yellow with a dark red center band, 2.5 to 3 inches |
| Foliage | Medium green, lance-shaped, dense base |
| 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 and butterflies; deer resistant |
Yellow and purple, the easy win
If you only remember one color rule for lavender, make it this one: yellow makes purple pop. The two sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so each makes the other look more vivid. Yellow & Red adds a little extra interest with its red eye, which ties in nicely with any red or pink flowers nearby.
Because the mound stays low, it is best used at the front: a bright edge along a path, a border in front of a lavender hedge, or a few plants at the corners of a raised lavender bed. Butterflies and bees work both plants on the same summer afternoons. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
A simple care routine
- Plant in full sun in average soil that drains well. Skip rich compost-heavy beds.
- Water regularly for the first few weeks, then only during long dry spells.
- Deadhead spent flowers weekly, or shear lightly when the mound gets shaggy.
- Leave stems standing through winter.
- Cut back in spring as new growth appears.
Its main risks are crown rot in wet soil, powdery mildew in crowded clumps on still, muggy days and the occasional case of aster yellows, which twists and greens the flowers. Remove any plant that shows it.
In containers
Yellow & Red is compact enough for a patio pot, and it pairs well with a potted lavender in a matching container. Use a gritty, well-drained potting mix for both and do not let the pots sit in saucers of water.
About the plug tray
It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, enough to edge a long lavender border or fill a season of container plantings. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to deadhead?
It will still flower without it, but regular deadheading is what keeps new buds coming until late summer.
Can I cut it for bouquets?
Yes. It is rated good for cutting, and a few sunny stems look great with fresh lavender in a small jar.
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