Coreopsis

Tickseeds provide masses of aster-like flowers, normally yellow, but also pink, cream, red, or a mix. Over a long period from summer into autumn and lasting well when cut. Foliage typically narrow, opposite and neat. Plenty of cultivated forms available, which make a reliable long-lived splash of colour in the middle to near the front of a sunny border. From the Greek, koris, meaning 'bug', the common name tickseed, all alluding to the seeds resemblance to ticks!

As with all 'daisy-like' flowers, the disc-flowers in the centre of the flowerhead produce nectar and pollen that are attractive to insects. The flowerheads of this genus are particularly favoured by bees, hoverflies, butterflies and ladybirds, although the provision is lower in doubled forms.