How Quickly Does Coreopsis Spread?

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Willie writes on small engine repair, landscaping, and lawn care. He owned a professional lawn care business in Alabama for almost 10 years.

Does Coreopsis Spread Fast?

Coreopsis spreads and grows relatively fast. How you propagate the plant (whether through seedlings or cuttings) will affect the time it takes to spread. Either way, this plant is not a slow grower.

Coreopsis grown from seeds may grow rather quickly, but they won’t bloom at all during their first two years.

Within six to twelve weeks, coreopsis will be growing at a quick pace. It typically spreads out anywhere from 20 to 36 inches (50.8 to 91.4 cm), so make sure you plant coreopsis plants with plenty of space around them.

Some coreopsis plants spread through underground stems known as rhizomes, which is how they can spread so fast (source).

When starting with seeds, you can plant coreopsis anywhere between one and two months before you put them in a desired area in your garden, or you can plant them directly into the garden.

If you choose to plant seeds indoors, you must move the seedlings and their container outside in a protected area for a few weeks. This is to acclimate the seedlings to the outside environment. You must do this so the seeds don’t go through a shock, which could negatively affect their growth.

After acclimating the seedlings, you can replant them. It can take anywhere from two to two and a half weeks for the roots to be well established in the ground.

Planting an already-growing baby coreopsis won’t take as long to flourish in your garden. As long as the conditions are what the plant needs, it will continue growing and spreading in no time.

You might see this within a week, depending on the environmental conditions.

Remember that coreopsis is non-toxic to all humans and animals. So, it’s okay to let it spread where it wants, even if you have pets that play near it or may try to eat it.

Why Your Coreopsis Is Not Spreading

Rot is the most common reason why coreopsis plants stop spreading.

Coreopsis is very prone to three different types of rot: root, stem, and crown. Usually, these are caused by an overgrowth of fungi. If you notice discoloration, such as browning or yellowing, this may be a sign your coreopsis has one of these.

Most forms of rot on coreopsis are caused by wrong watering conditions. When the soil is too wet or when there is not enough drainage, it creates the perfect environment for fungi to grow in and spread throughout the plant. These fungi can then cause poor root health, leading to rot.

For more information, see What Are The Signs Of Overwatering Plants?

You can add more well-draining components to your soil to help this. Additionally, observing proper watering practices, avoiding over-watering, and providing adequate drainage are essential in preventing rot on coreopsis.

Tips for Dealing With Rot

If you notice any crown rot on your coreopsis, you must immediately remove that part or cluster of the plant to prevent it from spreading further.

Remove the soil where that plant was and replace it with fresh soil, as fungi that cause rot can stay in the soil and infect other plants around it.

You can also get a fungicide to spray in the area and on the remaining plants to prevent them from growing any more. When used properly, a fungicide spray can help you get rid of existing fungal problems in your coreopsis s well as prevent new ones from taking hold.

General Coreopsis Care

If you follow the basic care guidelines for your coreopsis, it will live a long and healthy life. Coreopsis are relatively easy to care for, even for beginners.

Coreopsis needs regular watering, but you should avoid overwatering. Don’t allow your plants to become constantly soaking wet. Consistent moist soil is best for this type of plant. Additionally, don’t wait for the soil to completely dry out, but make sure it’s slightly moist before watering again.
Coreopsis needs full, direct sunlight each day to reach its full potential. Otherwise, it can survive in the partial sun; it just might not grow as fast or have as many blooms. Coreopsis doesn’t handle full shade very well.
The best soil to plant coreopsis in is a well-draining type of soil. These plants don’t like to sit in excess water, so having a well-draining material for soil is best.
Coreopsis prefers warmer temperatures. They don’t do well in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). So, make sure you keep it in a warm area.
Pruning helps coreopsis continue to bloom. Blooms will begin in the summer and continue until it begins to frost. Cut off the old/dead flower heads to ensure your coreopsis blooms next year.

As long as you follow the above guidelines, your coreopsis should be able to live for up to five years. If your coreopsis is outside, remember that some types of coreopsis are not made for winter and may die during the season. Others will spring back without issue.

Conclusion

Coreopsis spreads relatively fast. After about six weeks, you will see it spreading to its surroundings and growing taller.

You can grow coreopsis from seeds or already growing nursery coreopsis plants. Either way, they can thrive in your garden with all the correct environmental conditions.

When environmental conditions are not ideal, your coreopsis can develop several types of rot from a nasty fungus.

If you notice your coreopsis has stopped spreading altogether, it may have some type of rot that is beginning to kill it.

Coreopsis needs full sun, well-draining soil, regular watering, pruning, and warm temperatures to thrive.

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