Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Zagreb Threadleaf Coreopsis: Warm Gold All Summer Long
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Zagreb threadleaf coreopsis is a well-loved garden classic with a reason behind its reputation. It makes a bushy but airy clump of needle-fine foliage about 15 inches tall, dotted all summer with small golden-yellow daisies. The color is warmer and deeper than the pale yellow of 'Moonbeam'.
It is long-lived, drought tolerant and happy in lean, sunny soil, which is to say it has the same taste in real estate as lavender.
Zagreb at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Anacis verticillata 'Zagreb' (long sold as Coreopsis verticillata) |
| Flowers | Bright golden yellow, 1 to 1.5 inches, eight notched petals |
| Foliage | Medium to dark green, needle-fine and feathery |
| Size | About 15 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 |
| Recognition | RHS Award of Garden Merit |
Why gardeners pair it with lavender
Golden yellow next to lavender purple is a complementary contrast that looks good from across the yard. Zagreb starts blooming in late June, right as English lavender comes into flower, and keeps going steadily through late summer, so it is still putting on color after the lavender is cut.
The textures work, too. Both plants have fine foliage, but Zagreb is airy and green while lavender is dense and silver, so they read as distinct without clashing. At 15 inches, Zagreb fits the front of a lavender border or the gaps between young lavender plants. Try a few arrangements in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to lean and well drained. It dislikes wet winter soil, which is the main cause of loss.
- Water: regularly the first season; afterward only in long droughts, when flowering slows.
- Shearing: after the first big flush, cut the whole plant back by about a third to tidy it and bring on a fresh round of flowers.
- Spreading: it slowly widens by creeping roots. Divide it every few years if it outgrows its spot.
- Winter: leave the stems standing and cut back in spring when new growth appears.
It is generally trouble-free. Crowded clumps can get powdery mildew in muggy, still weather, so leave room between it and the lavender for air to move.
More places it shines
Beyond the lavender bed, Zagreb is a good choice for containers, pollinator and butterfly gardens, mass plantings and dry, low-water borders. Deer tend to leave it alone, which helps in rural gardens.
Plug tray or bare root
Zagreb is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and long edging runs, and as a bare root plant for home gardens. See the product pages for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is Zagreb different from Moonbeam?
Both are threadleaf coreopsis. Zagreb's flowers are a richer, warmer gold, while Moonbeam is pale butter yellow.
Is it a good cut flower?
It is fair for cutting. The small flowers work best as filler in casual bouquets.
Do I need to deadhead every flower?
No. One shearing after the first flush is easier and works better than picking off individual blooms.
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