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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| California Native (Plant List): Yes |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Synonyms: [Leptosyne gigantea] |
| Height: 3-5 feet |
| Width: 3-5 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): No Irrigation required |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Coreopsis gigantea (Giant Coreopsis) - A woody trunked herbaceous summer-deciduous subshrub/perennial that grows 3 to 6 feet on a stout 2 to 4 inch thick bare light gray-brown stem with branches topped with bright green pinnatifid leaves that emerge in winter and are followed by showy inflorescences of 3 inch wide yellow daisies that in late winter and continue on through late spring. The foliage dries up in the summer month leaving just the interesting sculptural stems. Plant in full sun in in a well-drained soil and irrigate very little to not at all in summer months - rots easily if soil does not drain or when given too much water in summer but can remain evergreen if given some summer water and soil drains well. Not very frost hardy but can tolerate short duration temperatures to around 25° F. Best left dry in summer in coastal areas, particularly where some fog is common. This plant is native to the Coastal Strand and Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities along the coast from the Santa Monica Mountains northwestward into Central California and on the Channel Islands with a disjunct population on Guadalupe Island off Baja California. It has also naturalized along road cuts in San Diego County. This is an interesting plant that is attractive in foliage and flower and its tree like form with fine foliage lends a Dr. Seuss quality to the landscape. The newest treatment in the Jepson Manual now places this plant within a monophyletic group that is distinct from Coreopsis in the genus Leptosyne as Leptosyne gigantea. Until such time as the new name comes into popular usage we continue to call this plant by its old name. The name Leptosyne comes from the Greek words 'leptos' meaning "slender", "thin", "small" or "weak" and 'syne' meaning "together" or "joined", likely in reference to the narrow leaf lobes. The older name Coreopsis comes from the Greek word 'koris' which means bug, and refers to the tick-like shape of the seed. Other Common names for this plant include Giant Tickseed and Giant Sea Dahlia.
The information about Coreopsis gigantea displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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