Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' PP24689
BIG BANG™ Series
Common Name: Tickseed
If we had to pick just a few items that are absolute must-haves, ‘Mercury Rising’ would certainly top the list. This zone 5 hardy red Coreopsis from brilliant hybridizer Darrell Probst blew us away in our trials.
The plants bulked up quickly and grew vigorously to form wide spreading, well-branched clumps of bright green, narrow leaves. We observed no signs of powdery mildew throughout our humid growing season. The breeder notes that this variety has excellent disease resistance compared to Coreopsis verticillata hybrids.
From early summer through early fall, potentially even until frost, the attractive foliage is covered in lustrous, velvety wine red blossoms with a golden orange button in the center. Blossoms are lightly frosted with a touch of creamy white on the petals in high summer. The flowers expand as they age, maturing to a large 1 ½ - 2” size. Even the backs of the flowers are decorative: creamy yellow with a purple stripe down the center of each petal.
Butterflies and honeybees delight in these beautiful blossoms. Since ‘Mercury Rising’ is sterile, no deadheading or other maintenance is required to keep it blooming over a long period.
‘Mercury Rising’ comes from the hardy perennial Coreopsis rosea, not the annual Coreopsis tinctoria of previously introduced red-flowered selections. It has overwintered in the breeder’s garden in zone 5 (central Massachusetts) for several years and has survived sub-zero temperatures there.
When we asked the breeder what he liked about 'Mercury Rising', he told us that he loved that it was a continuously blooming plant that combines well with almost anything else in the perennial border. He thinks--and we certainly agree--that this Coreopsis promises to become a favorite of gardeners and landscapers alike no matter what their gardening skill level.
Coreopsis is easy to grow, making it a good choice for beginners. One plant will provide you with long-lasting cut flower bouquets all summer long.
