Most varieties of the lady's eye are very floriferous and bee-friendly. The perennial, also known as two-toothed, prefers a dry location.
The cornflower (Coreopsis) is making a name for itself as an uncomplicated and multifaceted summer bloomer. The flower heads can enrich the garden beds in many facets and delight with their blossoms well into autumn. Since growth heights and flower colors vary between the individual varieties, a varied bed design can be ensured.
Girl's Eye - Origin
The perennials are also known as two-toothed or beautiful face. The original home is in North and South America. There are more than 100 species, most of which are native to the prairies of North America. Many of the cultivars available today also originated in the United States.
The girl's eye shows a resemblance to the two-toothed one. This annual plant is a popular balcony flower, while the cornflower feels most at home in the border.
Plant Maideneye
➔ The right location
Girls' eyes are children of the sun. Direct sunlight for several hours a day is a must in order to be able to enjoy the lush flowering. Even very sunny and dry slopes can be embellished with girls' eyes. Temporary drought is no problem for the robust steppe plants.
The compact varieties are popular borders. Make bees and insects happy in your home garden with the single flowers of some varieties of lady's eye.
➔ Choosing the ideal substrate
In their natural habitat, girls' eyes grow on noticeably dry ground. Therefore, in the home garden, the lady's-eye is far better adapted to drought than most other summer flowers.
The soil should have good permeability. Water must be able to drain away, because waterlogging is not tolerated. Furthermore, a nutrient-rich and humus-rich substrate is a good basis for growth.
➔ Planting a lady's eye - step by step
If the Maideneye is planted in spring, the perennial can take root well into winter.If you plant in the summer, make sure you water the young plants regularly.
Proceed as follows for planting:
- Select Location
- Clear weeds, roots and stones from the ground
- Dig planting hole
- Mix excavation with compost
- Insert plant
- Fill up soil
- Press the earth
- Water the plant
- Tie the plant if necessary
- Dig up the plant in spring
- Detach substrate from root ball
- Check root for damage
- Split the root with a knife or spade
- Replant Root Pieces
Care for girls eyes
➔ Pour girl's eye correctly
Girl's eye likes the sun, but the soil shouldn't dry out. A layer of mulch made of compost or leaves can help to keep water in the ground in summer.
If the Maideneye is kept in a bucket, regular watering is necessary. Preference should be given to watering in the morning and evening, then less water evaporates unused.
» Tip: Use rainwater that is as lime-free as possible to water the lady's eye.
➔ Fertilize the lady's eye properly
To ensure the flowering of the Damsel's Eye, should be fertilized with compost in the spring. Another application of fertilizer can be done in midsummer. If you cannot use natural fertilizers, you should use a commercial long-term fertilizer for flowering plants.
The most important planting and care tips at a glance
| Occupation | What matters |
| Select Location | full sun humid |
| Prepare the ground | permeable nutritious humos |
| Plant Maideneye | plant in spring enrich excavation with compost |
| Casting girl's eye | low moisture requirement soil must not dry out no waterlogging |
| Fertilize girl's eye | Compost in spring and summer Slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants in spring |
Cutting a girl's eye
If the lady's eye is cut back close to the ground in autumn, the flowering period will probably be shortened. For the plant itself, however, pruning has advantages. Overwintering rosettes form in the soil, making the plant stronger for the winter.
Withered flower stalks must be removed continuously. If seed formation is prevented, new buds will form instead and you will enjoy flowering for longer. If you want to get seeds, just leave a few stems on the plant.
Increase girl's eye
Asrichly flowering bedding perennial, the lady's eye needs a rejuvenation after two to three years. To do this, the root ball is divided and you gain new plants at the same time.
➔ Divide a girl's eye - step by step
Some varieties can also be propagated by seed. The seeds are removed from the plants in autumn and stored in a cool, dry place. Sowing under a cover can start in March. From the end of April it is possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors.
© Tip: Preculture indoors produces strong plants that usually flower in the first year.
Girl's Eye - Popular Varieties
➔ Fairy Eye 'Moonbeam'
(Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam)
| Mesh Leaf 'Moonbeam' (Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | pillow-like to pillow-forming, clumpy |
| Growth: | 25 - 30 cm |
| Growth: | 25 - 30 cm |
| Flower color: | soft yellow |
| Special Features: | very rich and persistent flowering, very hardy, bee-friendly |
| Floor: | permeable, nutritious, fresh, loamy-sandy |
➔ Dwarf Tickseed 'Sterntaler'
(Coreopsis lanceolata 'Sterntaler')
| Dwarf Tickseed 'Sterntaler' (Coreopsis lanceolata 'Sterntaler') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | clumpy, densely bushy, upright |
| Growth: | 20 - 40 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 30 cm |
| Flower color: | yellow, reddish brown spotted centre |
| Special Features: | long extended flowering period, bee friendly |
| Floor: | fresh, well-drained, nutritious, humus |
➔ Largeflowered Tickseed 'Sunray'®
(Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray' ®)
| King's Eye 'Sunray'® (Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray' ®) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | curved inclined, clumpy |
| Growth: | 30 - 70 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Flower color: | deep yellow |
| Special Features: | bee-friendly, cut plant, self-sowing after flowering |
| Floor: | permeable, high humus requirement |
➔ Fairy eye 'Zagreb'
(Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb')
| Mesh Leaf 'Zagreb' (Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | Pillow-like, upright flower stalks, compact, runner-forming |
| Growth: | 25 - 30 cm |
| Growth: | 25 - 30 cm |
| Flower color: | bright yellow |
| Special Features: | long flowering period, very floriferous |
| Floor: | fresh, well-drained, nutritious |
➔ Large-flowered Tickseed 'Sonnenkind'
(Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sonnenkind')
| Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sonnenkind' (Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sonnenkind') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | pillow-like, hemispherical, clumpy, compact |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Flower color: | deep yellow with red eye |
| Special Features: | suitable for cutting, hardy, bee-friendly |
| Floor: | nutrient rich, humic, permeable |
Detect diseases and pests
If the stated planting and care instructions are followed, the plants usually develop he althy and strong and are rarely affected by diseases or pests.
Young plants run the risk of being visited by voracious imgsnails. Every now and then aphids appear. A shower with a garden hose usually helps here. In unfavorable weather conditions, the girl's eye can be attacked by powdery mildew.
» Tip: Administering horsetail broth is a good tonic and can make you more resistant to diseases and pests.
Winter girl's eye
The perennials are considered conditionally hardy. Covering with leaves or twigs protects against frost and keeps the moisture in the soil. The Maiden's Eye should be watered on frost-free days.