Plant profile

Coreopsis

Genus Coreopsis

Coreopsis (often called tickseed) is a cheerful, long-blooming group of wildflowers that can brighten gardens and containers while offering easy-to-find nectar and pollen for many pollinators.

Plant Type

Wildflowers (herbaceous perennials) > Coreopsis

Aliases

Tickseed

Native Range

Coreopsis species are native to parts of North America; specific ranges vary by species.

Bloom window

Often blooms for a long stretch in the warm season (varies by species and cultivar).

Overview Summary Impact Recognition Location Requirements Glossary Get Involved

OVERVIEW

About This Plant

Coreopsis is a bright, beginner-friendly wildflower choice that fits almost anywhere you can offer sun and decent drainage. In a school garden, it’s a great “confidence plant” because it tends to bloom generously and looks good in both neat beds and more natural, meadow-style plantings.

If you want the longest show, focus on two simple habits: give it sun, and tidy it after flowering. Snipping off spent blooms (deadheading) can keep plants looking fresh and may encourage more flowers. If you’re growing coreopsis in a pot, choose a container with drainage holes and avoid keeping the soil constantly wet.

For pollinators, coreopsis works best as part of a mix. Pair it with a few plants that bloom earlier and later so your patch has flowers available across the season. Even a small planting can be a helpful stop when it’s repeated across many yards, balconies, and school spaces.

Best role for pollinators

Sunny beds, borders, meadow-style plantings, and containers where you want reliable color and steady pollinator activity.

Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) — https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/23811671 Photo: (c) Susan J. Hewitt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | CC-BY-NC | iNaturalist

FAST FACTS

Quick Details

Essential stats and requirements for quick reference.

Category	Details
Also known as	Tickseed
Bloom window	Often blooms for a long stretch in the warm season (varies by species and cultivar).
Typical height	Varies by species and variety; commonly low to medium height.
Pollinators supported	Bees, Butterflies, Flies
Light & moisture	Best in sun with well-drained soil; many types handle average moisture once established.
Best roles for pollinators	Sunny beds, borders, meadow-style plantings, and containers where you want reliable color and steady pollinator activity.

SUMMARY

If You Remember Three Things

A quick scan of what they do, what they need, and the best first step.

What they do

Coreopsis adds bright, open flowers that are easy for many pollinators to visit.

What they need

Sun and soil that drains well; occasional tidying can keep blooms coming.

One best action

Plant coreopsis in a sunny spot and deadhead (or lightly shear) after a big flush of blooms to encourage more flowers.

IMPACT

Why Plant This?

Coreopsis is a friendly “starter” wildflower: it’s easy to grow, blooms generously, and offers accessible flowers that many pollinators can use in everyday garden settings.

The common name “tickseed” comes from the look of the seeds, which can resemble tiny ticks.

Key Impacts

What it Supports

Open, daisy-like flowers are easy landing pads for many pollinators.
Long bloom periods can help keep your garden “on” when other plants take breaks.
Works in small spaces—one pot can still make a difference.

RECOGNITION

Identification Guide

Coreopsis is usually easy to recognize by its bright, daisy-like blooms and airy, wildflower look.

Leaves

Leaves vary by species—some are narrow and lance-shaped, others are more finely divided; usually green and held in clumps or along slender stems.

Flowers

Daisy-like blooms with a central disk and ray petals; often bright yellow, sometimes with contrasting centers or bicolored petals depending on variety.

Fruits

Small, dry seeds that can look like tiny ticks (the source of the name “tickseed”).

LOCATION

Where It Grows

Native environments and the best spots to place it in your landscape.

Habitats

Open sunny areas
Prairie- and meadow-like settings
Roadsides and other well-drained, open ground (varies by species)

Where it is often used

Pollinator patch or school garden
Sunny border and edging
Meadow-style planting
Container gardening
Cut flowers (short bouquets)

SEASONALITY

When It Blooms

Notes on bloom windows and how this plant helps pollinators across the seasons.

Bloom window

Bloom timing depends on the species and variety, but many coreopsis types flower for a long stretch when conditions are right.

Bloom Season Role: A steady, easy-to-spot nectar stop during the main growing season.

Seasonal benefits

Provides consistent flower resources during the main gardening season
Pairs well with early and late bloomers to keep your patch active longer

REQUIREMENTS

What It Needs

The right mix of sun, soil, and space for healthy growth.

Sun exposure

Give coreopsis plenty of sun for the best flowering; part sun can work, especially in hot spots.

Soil type

Well-drained soil is key. If your soil stays wet, improve drainage with compost and choose a higher spot or a container.

Moisture needs

Water to establish, then let the soil dry slightly between waterings. In containers, check more often because pots dry out faster.

Planting method

Plant in spring or early fall. Space so air can move between plants; this helps keep foliage healthier.

Mulching tips

Use a light layer of mulch to reduce weeds, but keep mulch from piling against the crown of the plant.

GARDENING GUIDE

How to Grow It

Simple steps to plant, prune, and maintain healthy trees without pesticides.

Planting tips

Pick a sunny spot (or a bright container) with good drainage.
Loosen the soil and mix in a little compost if the ground is compacted.
Plant at the same depth as the pot it came in; don’t bury the crown.
Water well after planting, then water as needed while it settles in.
Add a light mulch layer to reduce weeds, keeping it off the plant’s base.

Seasonal care

Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering (or lightly shear after a big flush).
Water during long dry spells, especially in the first season and in containers.
Divide crowded clumps every few years if flowering slows or the center thins.
Leave some seedheads late in the season if you want natural reseeding (where appropriate).

What not to do

Planting in soil that stays wet or puddles after rain
Not trimming after the first big bloom and then wondering why flowering slows
Using pesticides to deal with minor leaf damage or a few insects
Overwatering containers

Pairings

Best Pairings for Season-Long Bloom

Pairing ideas to keep pollinators fed throughout the growing season.

Early Bloom

Wild lupine
Columbine
Early-blooming native asters (where suitable)

Mid-Season Bloom

Bee balm
Purple coneflower
Blazing star

Late-Season Bloom

Goldenrod
Asters
Sedum (stonecrop)

Because “coreopsis” covers many species and garden varieties, check the plant tag for mature size and winter hardiness, and choose types that are well-suited to Toronto-area gardens.

GLOSSARY