Coreopsis Big Bang Mercury Rising

* Common name: Tickseed Big Bang Mercury Rising(R)

* Botanical name: Coreopsis hybrid

* What it is: A new, mounded, thread-leafed perennial flower with rich, wine-red flowers. A long and heavy bloomer that flowers almost non-stop from June to frost. Also very disease-resistant and reliably winter-hardy.

* Size:18 inches tall by 2 feet wide

* Where to use: Sunny foundations, border gardens and lining walks.

* Care: Fertilize in March with granular, organic flower fertilizer. Lightly shear spent flowers after initial bloom to encourage the best repeat bloom. Cut browned-out foliage to ground in fall after frost kills it or at end of winter.

* Great partner: At base of ‘Limelight’ or ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea or pair with perennial white coneflowers or Shasta daisies.

— George Weigel