Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’

July 7, 2012 by Sharon Epstein 1 Comment

It’s 90 degrees out. It’s even hotter on the slate walk outside my door. It’s the kind of heat that burns your feet and causes you to recoil as you violently mouth the words “hot, hot, hot…” (Whose idea was it to go barefoot anyway?)

The dog days of summer usually arrive August, but this year they arrived in June, unwelcome visitors, unaware of the concept of a temporary stay. It’s the kind of heat and humidity that makes both people and plants take stock of themselves. But not my Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull.’ Right now it’s blooming exuberantly next to the walk, in all that heat and humidity.

I love my Jethro Tull.

I fell in love with Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’ several years ago at the Redding Garden Club’s plant sale. The flowers were brilliant gold – much more interesting than the yellow Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ I owned and was a bit bored with. Then I saw the fluted petals and I was hooked.

In truth,  Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’ has had some setbacks in my Redding, Connecticut garden. It’s been nibbled by deer and has been susceptible to powdery mildew (although right now there’s none). And last year, much to my dismay, half of it was dug up and irretrievably mangled by a pregnant snapping turtle who decided to lay her eggs in that very spot – the one occupied by my Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull.

Thankfully it’s a resilient and hardy plant, and it’s caught a couple of breaks. This past June the turtle returned to lay her eggs elsewhere in the garden. The deer haven’t noshed on it. And it keeps flowering despite the weather. Like I said, I love this plant.

Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’ is easy to grow. It needs full sun and well-drained soil, and can tolerate heat, humidity, dry soil and some drought. (It always does better when watered.) It grows to 18″ and has a compact habit, blooming early to midsummer in zones 5 to 9. Deadhead for best show.

Find more growing info at Perennials.com