Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
flowerMoonbeam (Coreopsis verticillata) earned Perennial Plant of the Year in 1992 and has been a border staple ever since. It builds an airy, ferny mound of fine threadlike foliage studded all summer with masses of soft, creamy butter-yellow daisies. The muted color blends with everything, the plant is tough and drought-tolerant, and the long nonstop bloom makes it a dependable bee and butterfly feeder. A sterile selection, it pours its energy into flowering rather than seed, blooming for months with a midsummer shearing.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 6 days
Bloom
~90 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
18 in. apart
Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Average to dry, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 9
When to Fertilize
None to light in spring
Fertilizer
None; compost if soil is poor
Plant Moonbeam in full sun and average to dry, well-drained soil; it thrives in poor, sandy, or rocky ground and only fails in wet, poorly drained soil where crown rot sets in. Space plants about 18 in. apart - it spreads slowly by rhizomes to fill in. Water to establish, then it is quite drought-tolerant. Deadheading or, easier, a single midsummer shear after the first big flush keeps it blooming and tidy into fall. As a sterile cultivar it is propagated by division, not seed; divide every 2 to 3 years to keep it vigorous.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first bloom
Jul 14
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
The main risk - plant in sharply drained soil and never let the crown sit in wet ground, especially over winter
Hose the occasional colony off the fine foliage; predators usually keep them in check
Can nibble new spring growth in damp spots - use grit or traps until plants are established
Moonbeam is a charming filler in summer bouquets - cut stems with several open flowers in the cool morning. In the garden, the simplest care is a single shear: once the first heavy flush winds down in midsummer, cut the whole plant back by about a third to spark fresh growth and a long second bloom into fall. Regular deadheading does the same on a smaller scale and keeps pollinators coming.
Threadleaf coreopsis is an excellent and long-lasting pollinator plant - its summer-long daisies feed bees, butterflies, and many small beneficial insects, and Coreopsis as a genus supports dozens of insect species. The seed of the species forms feeds finches, though the sterile Moonbeam channels its energy into an exceptionally long bloom that keeps nectar available for months.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.