Plains coreopsis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Plains coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria
Scientific classification
Genus:	Coreopsis
Species:	tinctoria
Synonyms
Synonymy Bidens tinctoria (Nutt.) Baill. Calliopsis atkinsoniana (Douglas ex Lindl.) Hook. Calliopsis bicolor Rchb. Calliopsis cardaminefolia DC. Calliopsis tinctoria (Nutt.) DC. Coreopsis atkinsoniana Douglas ex Lindl. Coreopsis bicolor (Rchb.) Bosse ex Buchenau Coreopsis cardaminefolia (DC.) Torr. & A.Gray Coreopsis gracilis Blanco Coreopsis similis F.E.Boynton Coreopsis stenophylla F.E.Boynton Diplosastera tinctoria (Nutt.) Tausch

Plains coreopsis, garden tickseed, golden tickseed, or calliopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria, is an annual forb. The plant is common to Canada (from Quebec to British Columbia), northeast Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas), and much of the United States, especially the Great Plains and Southern states where it is often called "calliopsis." The species is also widely cultivated in and naturalized in China.

It often grows in disturbed areas such as roadsides and cultivated fields.

Description

Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) and Texas bullnettle (Cnidoscolus texanus) blooming at Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado Co., Texas, USA

Growing quickly, Coreopsis tinctoria plants attain heights of 12 to 40 inches (30–100 cm). Leaves are pinnately-divided, glabrous and tending to thin at the top of the plant where numerous 1- to 1.5-inch (2.5-to 4-cm) flower heads sit atop slender stems.

Flower heads are brilliant yellow with maroon or brown disc florets of various sizes. Flowering typically occurs in mid-summer. The small, slender seeds germinate in fall (overwintering as a low rosette) or early spring.

Uses

The Zuni people traditionally use the blossoms of the tinctoria variety to make a mahogany red dye for yarn, and, until the introduction of coffee by traders, to make a hot beverage. Women also used an infusion of the whole plant of this variety, except for the root, if they desired a female child.

Cultivation

Coreopsis tinctoria cultivar Uptick Cream and Red.

Plains coreopsis is cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens, and as a native plant for wildlife gardens and natural landscaping. It grows well in many types of soil, but seems to prefer sandy or well-drained soils. Although somewhat drought-tolerant, naturally growing plants are usually found in areas with regular rainfall. Preferring full sun, it will also grow in partial shade.

Cultivars

Because of its easy growing habits and the bright, showy flowers of cultivars such as 'Roulettte' (tiger stripes of gold on a deep mahogany ground), plains coreopsis is increasingly used for landscape beautification and in flower gardens.