Maideneye: Hardiness & Propagation of Coreopsis

Luckily, perennial species do not only have one season to admire the radiant flowers of the Maideneye. With appropriate measures, they will sprout vigorously again next year.

That girl eye (Coreopsis) over the winter does not mean much effort and works without problems for most species. Propagating the girl's eye is also not a challenge - with the help of our instructions it will definitely succeed. In the following you will learn more about the hardiness and the propagation of the beautiful face.

Is the girl's eye hardy?

Most perennial species of the Damsel's Eye have sufficient winter hardiness. However, there are also some varieties that should be additionally protected in colder winters.

Tip: Since the damsel's eye is a naturally rather short-lived perennial, regardless of its winter hardiness, it should the propagation should be thought of in good time if you can still enjoy the plant for a long time would like.

Which lady's eye species are hardy?

There are a few differences between the species of the lady's eye when it comes to winter hardiness. But the same frost tolerance does not necessarily apply to one species. That's why it's best to reassure yourself when buying whether the special variety meets your expectations. More detailed information about the different properties and characteristics of the Girl's Eye Varieties and Types can be found in our further article.

• Not hardy: Annual Dyer's Rune (Coreopsis tinctoria)
• winter hardiness up to approx. – 17 °C: Large-flowered Maidenhair (Coreopsis grandiflora ˈEarly Sunriseˈ)
• winter hardiness up to approx. – 23 °C: Large-flowered Maidenhair (Coreopsis grandiflora), Little Girl's Eye (Coreopsis lanceolata), whorl-petalled harlequin (Coreopsis verticillata)
• winter hardiness up to approx. – 34 °C: High girl’s eye (Coreopsis tripteris)

Tips for wintering

It is generally recommended to support the short-lived perennials with additional protective measures, especially in harsh locations or colder winters. A cover with mulch materials such as leaves and twigs is ideal for this, but also ours Plantura organic pine bark can be used for protection. It also helps suppress weeds and keeps the soil evenly moist.
If you have cultivated specimens of the beautiful face in pots, they should be wrapped in fleece and placed in a protected place, preferably on a styrofoam plate. Make sure that the potting soil never dries out completely, even in winter, but also avoid soil that is too wet.

At a glance: wintering the lady's eye

• Degree of winter hardiness depends on species and variety
• Additional protection in harsh conditions and cold winters
• Covering the bedding plants with mulch material
• Cover potted plants with fleece and place them in a sheltered place
• Occasional watering of the potted plants, even in winter

Tip: Cutting back close to the ground in early autumn encourages new growth and thus extends the lifespan of the pretty face.

propagate girl's eye

In principle, the damsel's eye can be propagated quite easily by sowing, dividing and cuttings. Under optimal site conditions, some species, such as the whorl-leaved and the high damsel-eye, even tend to self-seed. Harvesting your own seeds requires waiting until the flower heads have withered and the seed pods have matured and dried off. Instructions on how to proceed with sowing can be found in our Fact sheet about the girl's eye.

division

Since the beautiful face is usually a short-lived perennial, propagation and simultaneous rejuvenation of the plants by division is well suited. For this purpose, the root ball is divided with a spade in autumn or spring and the individual pieces are planted again.

girl eye over cuttings multiply

Propagation via cuttings can be carried out from May. It is best to cut basal cuttings in a length of 10 to 15 cm. These are removed directly from the base of the plant's stem with a sharp tool. The shoot should be healthy and have a few leaves. The leaves are removed from the lower part of the cutting and it is placed almost halfway into moist potting soil. A plastic bag or foil can be placed over the pots for a better microclimate. Rooting takes several weeks and should take place at temperatures between 15 and 18 °C.

At a glance: multiply girl's eye

• Sowing: Cultivation indoors in March/April or direct sowing outdoors from a temperature of 10 °C
• Division: Division of the root ball in autumn/ spring
• Cuttings: Cut and pot basal cuttings from May

Can you harvest Maize Seeds? There is nothing wrong with using the seeds of your own plants for propagation. All you have to do is wait for the right time to harvest, which depends on the flowering time of the species or strain. However, a varietal propagation by sowing cannot be guaranteed if different species or varieties of damsel's eye in the garden, as these are pollinated by bees and bumblebees, among other things will. For a varietal propagation, the plant should be separated and pollinated by hand or no other species or variety should be placed nearby.

A perennial that is also frost-resistant and has a winter hardiness down to -30 °C is the black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). With its beautiful inflorescences, it not only enriches the look of a perennial planting, it is also used as a medicinal plant for menopause symptoms.