Coreopsis tinctoria

Common Names

Golden Tickseed, Plains Coreopsis, Calliopsis, Tickseed, Dyer’s Coreopsis, Nuttall’s Weed, Goldenwave

Summary

Coreopsis tinctoria, commonly called Plains Coreopsis or Golden Tickseed, is an annual native to western North America that is widely cultivated and naturalized across much of North America, it grows about 0.5–1 m tall (2–4 ft) with a spread of 12–18 inches, has upright stiff branching stems and finely divided leaves mainly on the lower half, and bears daisy-like flowers with bright yellow ray florets and a reddish-brown center disk, rays are typically yellow with a red-brown blotch and bloom from June to September, flowers face the sun on slender stalks creating an airy display, and the plant readily reseeds in suitable conditions, while deer tolerance and general pest- and disease-free status aid garden performance, cultivation is straightforward as it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and poor soils such as sandy or rocky types, seeds germinate best with light and can be started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost or sown outdoors after frost, with many plants self-seeding, deadheading extends bloom, though some forms may be easier to manage by shearing, it is widely used in borders, wildflower meadows, prairie plantings, and cutting gardens, and it attracts bees and butterflies while providing seeds for birds, historically it has been used as a dye source, producing colors from yellow to mahogany depending on the dyebath pH

Lifecycle

Annual, with occasional biennial or short-lived perennial tendencies.

Height

12-48 inches

Spread

6-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 2-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Yellow, often with maroon, red, or brown centers or blotches.

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Fast-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds