Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Early Sunrise tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise').
More about coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise'
About Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise'
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' · also called Early Sunrise tickseed · flowering
'Early Sunrise' is an award-winning tickseed bearing semi-double, golden-yellow daisies from early summer to frost on compact 45 cm mounds. Quick to flower from seed in its first year, it is heat- and drought-tolerant, loves full sun and average soil, and rewards deadheading with months of bloom that bees and butterflies adore.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Declining midseason bloom: Deadhead spent flowers and shear lightly to maintain a long, continuous display through to frost.
The reasons coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' and get the feeding right with the coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' flower?
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' bloom?
Give coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' normally bloom?
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' flowering?
Feeding coreopsis grandiflora 'early sunrise' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 639 bloom guides in the Growli library