← Plant Guides

How to Grow Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee'

Wikimedia Commons

Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee'

Coreopsis tinctoria 'Ruby Picotee'

flower

Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' is a vibrant annual or short-lived perennial flower featuring distinctive ruby-red petals with bright yellow picotee (contrasting edge) markings. This showy cultivar produces masses of daisy-like blooms from early summer through frost, providing continuous color with minimal maintenance. It's an excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, and cut flower arrangements.

When should you plant Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' timeline →

Example Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee'

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' blooms

    Around Jun 16

    ≈ 60 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours for best flowering)
💧
Water: Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established. Water when soil surface is dry. Avoid overwatering, which promotes disease and reduces flowering.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 60-90 days from seed to first flowers
🌱
Planting depth: Surface sow or just barely cover; seeds need light to germinate

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil
pH: 5.5-7.5
Amendments:
Perlite or coarse sand for drainage Compost for organic matter Avoid heavy clay

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; best as annual in cooler climates, short-lived perennial in warmer zones

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

Sign up free to see if Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seed germination

1-2 weeks

Tiny seedlings emerge with two oval cotyledons; seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 70-75°F

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light immediately after sprouting; avoid overheating seedling trays

2

Seedling & early vegetative

3-4 weeks

True leaves develop; plants form a compact base with 4-6 leaves; height 2-3 inches

Thin seedlings to 12-inch spacing if direct sowing; provide good air circulation; begin hardening off transplants one week before planting

3

Vegetative growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development; plants reach 12-18 inches tall; bushy, branching habit forms

Pinch back tops at 6 inches to encourage branching and bushier plant form; consistent watering aids growth; deadhead spent flowers to promote more branching

4

Flowering & blooming

6-10 weeks or until frost

Abundant daisy-like flowers with ruby-red petals edged in bright yellow; flowers 1-1.5 inches across; continuous blooms

Deadhead spent flowers regularly to extend bloom time; provide consistent moisture during peak heat; stake tall varieties if needed; fertilize lightly every 3-4 weeks with balanced fertilizer

5

Seed production & decline

Until first frost or plant decline

Flowers transition to seed heads; plant may slow blooming in fall as temperatures drop; foliage may yellow

Allow some flowers to remain for self-seeding next year; or deadhead to keep plants blooming longer; reduce watering as growth slows; annual types will die at frost; perennials may regrow from roots

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Zinnias Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) Cosmos Salvia Dusty Miller Marigolds Sunflowers Lamb's ear

Avoid planting near:

Dense shade trees Moisture-loving plants (hostas, hydrangeas) Plants requiring consistently moist soil

Common Pests

  • Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs; neem oil as last resort

  • Increase humidity; spray foliage with water; use miticides if severe; ensure good air circulation

  • Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur dust or fungicide; plant in full sun

  • and

    Hand-pick in early morning; use copper barriers; beer traps; diatomaceous earth; remove shelter debris

  • Remove infected plants immediately; control leafhoppers with neem oil or insecticidal soap; no cure available

Uses

🍳

Edible flower garnish

Culinary

Coreopsis petals are edible and can be used as a colorful, mild-flavored garnish for salads, desserts, and beverages. The vibrant ruby and yellow colors add visual appeal to plates. [source]

🏠

Cut and dried flowers

Household

Excellent for fresh cut flower arrangements (5-7 day vase life) and dried flower arrangements. Flowers dry easily for long-lasting bouquets and crafts. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The open daisy-like flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the growing season. Excellent for supporting pollinator populations in the garden. [source]

🎨

Dried flower arrangements & crafts

Craft

Flowers dry well for wreaths, pressed flower projects, and permanent floral arrangements. The bold color combinations are striking in dried form. [source]

💊

Traditional herbal uses

Medicinal

Coreopsis has been used in traditional herbalism for various applications, though modern clinical research is limited. May have mild antioxidant properties. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

For cut flowers: harvest in early morning when flowers are just fully open; use sharp shears and place immediately in water; flowers last 5-7 days in a vase. For seed saving: allow flowers to fade naturally on the plant; collect dry seed heads before they shatter; store seeds in cool, dry place. Deadhead regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous blooming.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 The common name 'Tickseed' comes from the seed shape—the seeds resemble small ticks, which is how the plant earned its colloquial name.
  • 🌱 Coreopsis tinctoria was historically used by Native Americans and early settlers to create natural dyes, and the scientific name 'tinctoria' literally means 'used for dyeing'.
  • 🌱 This cultivar's 'Ruby Picotee' coloring (solid color with contrasting edge markings) is a result of careful breeding and selection from the species' natural color variations.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Cultivar Deadhead Direct Sow Full Sun Hardening Off Perennial Pinch Back Transplant True Leaves
Shop Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Tickseed 'Ruby Picotee' timeline →