Coreopsis lanceolata

lance-leaf tickseed, lance coreopsis, lanceleaf coreopsis, lance-leaved coreopsis, sand coreopsis, longstalk tickseed
Family

Asteraceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite, basal

Leaf Attachment

petiolate, sessile

Leaf Margin

entire, lobed

Leaf Type

cauline, simple

Leaf Shape

linear, elliptic, lanceolate, spatulate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

yellow

Flower Month

March - June

Height (meters)

0.2 - 1.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Cool season


Wetland Class

UPL

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

6

Field Characters

Similar to immature plants of Gaillardia aestivalis which has alternate leaves while the leaves of Coreopsis lanceolata are opposite. When flowering they can be distinguished by their disc flowers that are purple in G. aestivalis and yellow in Coreopsis. Coreopsis tripteris is also a coastal prairie species but is easily identified by its three to five palmately divided leaves on 2.5 cm petioles.

Cultural Information

Easily grown from seed. Fresh seeds planted in the greenhouse during the fall had 90% germination. Seed germination improves with cold/moist stratification (Nichols 1934, Steffen 1997). Clumps may be divided in fall. Does well in cultivation. Seeds average approximately 400,000 seeds/lb.

Animal Use

Is of little value to livestock or game animals.

Habitat

Roadsides, thickets, sandy woods, prairies, and waste places.