Tickseed UPTICK™ Red

Coreopsis UPTICK™ Red ('Baluptred')

Asteraceae

• Full sun (6+ hours), tolerates part shade
• 12-14" tall x 12-14" wide
• Drought Tolerant: Yes
• Evergreen: No
• Flower Color: Dark red with golden yellow tips, blooms early summer through fall
• Wildlife Benefits: Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees; deer resistant

Coreopsis UPTICK™ Red is a compact, herbaceous perennial that forms a tidy, bushy mound of narrow, mid-green foliage. This easy-to-grow cultivar thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade, especially in hot summer areas. It prefers medium moisture, well-drained soils and demonstrates exceptional tolerance to heat, drought, and poor soils once established. The plant requires well-drained conditions for successful overwintering and performs best in average to light soil rather than heavy clay. This beginner-friendly perennial is notably disease resistant and requires minimal maintenance to look great throughout the growing season.

The flowers of UPTICK™ Red are striking and distinctive, with the first flush producing nearly solid dark red blooms. As the season progresses, successive flowers display the cultivar's signature bi-color pattern with deep mahogany-red petals adorned with bright golden yellow tips. The flowers are larger than many Coreopsis varieties, providing exceptional flower power over an extended blooming period from early summer continuously into fall. The compact, mounded growth habit keeps the plant neat and proportional without flopping or requiring staking. The narrow foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the abundant blooms.

This cultivar is a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds throughout its long blooming season. The nectar-rich flowers provide consistent food sources for beneficial insects from summer through fall. Coreopsis is native to North America, making it an excellent choice for native plant gardens and natural landscapes. The plant is deer resistant and rabbit tolerant, ensuring reliable performance. The flowers are excellent for cutting and make long-lasting additions to fresh bouquets. Spent flower heads can be left standing to provide seeds for goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.

UPTICK™ Red is perfect for sunny borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator gardens. Its compact size makes it ideal for containers, rock gardens, and as edging along pathways. The plant works beautifully in mass plantings, creating bold drifts of color that remain attractive all summer. Pair with other drought-tolerant perennials like Agastache, Echinacea, and ornamental grasses. The low-growing habit makes it excellent for front-of-border placement or mixed with annuals. This cultivar can effectively replace traditional annuals in garden beds and containers while providing perennial reliability and reduced maintenance.