When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot up or plant plugs once frost has passed. Keep soil lightly moist for the first few weeks while roots grow out; full sun from the start once hardened off. Pinching tips once makes a fuller plant.
Made with this by our community
Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Heartstrings grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 20.0 in
- Mature spread
- 24.0 in
- Bloom
- Late-June – peak Mid-July
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Heartstrings
Coreopsis · Anacis verticillata
Threadleaf coreopsis (now Anacis verticillata, formerly Coreopsis) wants full sun and lean, well-drained soil. It thrives on neglect; rich or wet soil makes it flop.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Moderate waterAverage drainage
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pH 5.5–8.0Soil
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Zones 5a–9bHardiness
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20″ tall24″ wide
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ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Heartstrings will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 5a–9b
Spring after hard frosts, or early fall at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Your year with Heartstrings
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When to plant
Spring after hard frosts, or early fall at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
How deep
Set the crown even with the soil surface, with the fine roots spread out below. Don't bury the crown or mound mulch against it.
Spacing
About 18–24 in apart; plants spread slowly by short rhizomes.
Soil
Sandy, rocky or average loam; tolerates clay if it drains · pH 5.5–8.0
Fix-it tip: Don't enrich it. In heavy clay, loosen the bed and mix in grit or plant on a slight mound so the crown never sits wet in winter.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates part sun (a few hours of shade)).
More shade means fewer flowers and floppier stems.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
A late riser: fine, needle-like shoots usually appear mid-to-late spring, often after many other perennials. Don't dig it up in April thinking it's dead; scratch the crown and look for green buds.
Spring
Be patient; late to emerge. Cut back old stems.
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Summer
Peak bloom; shear by a third after the first flush.
Fall
Light rebloom; plant or divide early fall.
Winter
Leave stems; keep drainage good.
Watering
First season: Water deeply once or twice a week the first summer, more in heat, until new growth spreads.
After that: Drought tolerant. Water only in long dry spells; too much water and fertilizer cause weak, flopping stems.
Feeding
Usually none. A light spring dose of compost is plenty; extra fertilizer makes it flop.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadheading each tiny flower isn't practical. After the first big flush fades, shear the whole plant back by about one-third to tidy it and often get fall bloom. Leave stems over winter and cut back in spring.
Dividing
Every 2–3 years in early spring or fall when the center thins out. Lift, split into rooted pieces, and replant.
Winter
Hardy to about zone 3–4. Leave stems standing for winter; it rots more from wet winter soil than from cold.
Summer heat
Handles heat and humidity well. Can look tired after the first bloom flush; a shearing refreshes it.
Plant flops open in the middle
Likely cause: Soil too rich or wet, or too much shade
What to do: Shear back by a third, stop feeding, and move to full sun and leaner soil.
No growth by mid-May
Likely cause: Normal late emergence, or winter wet killed the crown
What to do: Wait until early June; check crown for firm green buds. If mushy, replant in a better-drained spot.
Center dies out, ring of growth outside
Likely cause: Clump is aging
What to do: Divide in spring and replant the vigorous outer pieces.
Too wet or too dry?
Yellowing and mushy stems at the base mean wet soil. Crisp brown foliage in drought means it needs a deep soak.
Watch for
- Crown or root rot in wet soil
- Southern blight in hot, humid regions
- Few insect problems
Pets & wildlife
NC State lists threadleaf coreopsis as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Works well in pots with regular potting mix plus grit. Water when the top inch is dry. Overwinter potted plants in an unheated garage or bury the pot in the ground.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and a winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
No chill needed
NC State notes seeds need no cold treatment; plants grow and bloom without special chilling.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
A classic partner: same full sun, lean soil and low water. The airy yellow or pink froth softens lavender's spiky gray form and blooms with and after it.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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