Coreopsis rosea is a native North American perennial with rose-pink ray flowers and yellow centers - unusual within a genus dominated by yellow-flowered species. It has a naturally discontinuous range along the eastern US Atlantic seaboard and into Nova Scotia, where it grows at pond edges, streambanks, and in wet sandy or peaty soils.
It spreads steadily by rhizomes, forming low colonies well suited to rain garden margins, bog garden edges, or naturalistic plantings alongside water features. It requires consistently moist to wet, acidic soil and full sun; in heavier clay, alkaline, or seasonally dry conditions it declines. Divide clumps every two to three years to keep growth vigorous. Soil pH around 5.5–6.5 and a sandy or peaty substrate closely mimic its native habitat and produce the most stable stands.
As a regionally rare native, it supports native bees and small pollinators during summer and contributes ecological value in designed wetland plantings that replicate its natural streambank habitat.
Ecoregions:Northern ForestsEastern Temperate Forests
These dates are for Zone 6b. Enter your ZIP to time every job to your own frost dates.
- plant · Apr 24Plant nursery divisions or potted plants into consistently moist, acidic soil in full sun once frost risk has passed.
- plant · Any time in springDivide established rhizome clumps every 2–3 years in early spring before new growth emerges to maintain vigor and manage spread.
- watch · Any time in summerMonitor soil moisture throughout the season - plants in soil that dries out even briefly will wilt and decline quickly.
- watch · Any time in summerCheck for aster yellows: distorted or stunted growth, yellowing foliage, and misshapen stems. Remove and discard affected plants; manage leafhopper populations to slow spread.
- watch · Any time in summerInspect foliage for powdery mildew or fungal leaf spots, especially if air circulation is poor. Thin dense colonies and avoid overhead watering.
- cut · Oct 30Cut stems back to just above the basal foliage after the first hard frost to tidy the planting for winter.
Problems & troubleshooting
Common problems
Aster Yellows
Deformed, greenish flowers, stunted growth, and yellowed foliage. Flower centers may produce tufts of leafy growth instead of normal petals.
No cure. Remove and destroy infected plants immediately to stop spread. Control leafhoppers, which transmit the disease, and remove nearby weed hosts.
Powdery mildew
White or grey powdery coating on leaves - usually starting on older growth in humid conditions or when nights cool.
Improve air circulation by thinning plants. Apply neem oil or potassium bicarbonate spray at first sign. Avoid overhead watering.
Fungal leaf spot
Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.
Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.