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Coreopsis tinctoria

Previously known as:

  • Calliopsis bicolor
Phonetic Spelling
kor-ee-OP-sis tink-TOR-ee-uh
Description

Coreopsis tinctoria is a showy wildflower with a long bloom-time (summer through frost). It is native to the south-central US, but it has naturalized elsewhere, including North Carolina. 

It prefers light, sandy soil but is tolerant of poor soil, drought, and heat and is commonly found in dry fields, roadsides, waste places, and pastures. It requires good drainage and should be watered lightly as it does not tolerate 'wet feet'. It is a great plant for sunny, hard to water areas.  It will self-seed to any open, bare ground. Remove faded flowers to prevent excessive self-seeding and promote reblooming. This is a good cut flower and is particularly attractive in mass plantings as it does best when crowded.

This plant is resistant to deer.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Mahogany Midget'
    very dwarf (8 to 12” tall) plants with 2” wide deep red flowers with yellow centers.
  • 'Mardi Gras'
    very dwarf (8” tall) variety with colorful flowers. Petals are deep red with yellow tips, and the flowers have yellow centers. C
  • 'Seashells'
    Golden yellow flowers with tubular petals that resemble seashells.
  • 'Tiger'
    Dark red flowers with a yellow, exotic-looking pattern on petals.
'Mahogany Midget', 'Mardi Gras', 'Seashells', 'Tiger'
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#bronze#maroon#pink flowers#medicinal#fall interest#NC native#well-drained soil#multistemmed#spreading#dye plant#deer resistant#native garden#self-seeding#pollinator plant#clumping#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#annual#wildflower#tea#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Mahogany Midget'
    very dwarf (8 to 12” tall) plants with 2” wide deep red flowers with yellow centers.
  • 'Mardi Gras'
    very dwarf (8” tall) variety with colorful flowers. Petals are deep red with yellow tips, and the flowers have yellow centers. C
  • 'Seashells'
    Golden yellow flowers with tubular petals that resemble seashells.
  • 'Tiger'
    Dark red flowers with a yellow, exotic-looking pattern on petals.
'Mahogany Midget', 'Mardi Gras', 'Seashells', 'Tiger'
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#bronze#maroon#pink flowers#medicinal#fall interest#NC native#well-drained soil#multistemmed#spreading#dye plant#deer resistant#native garden#self-seeding#pollinator plant#clumping#poor soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#annual#wildflower#tea#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Coreopsis
    Species:
    tinctoria
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Amerindians used root tea for diarrhea and as an emetic. Flowers boiled in water used as a tea to strengthen the blood and for internal pains and bleeding. It was also used as a source of yellow and red dyes.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada to Eastern Mexico.
    Distribution:
    naturalized through most of US excluding Nevada, Utah and New Hampshire
    Wildlife Value:
    Source of nectar for pollinators, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. The leaf beetle, Calligrapha californica, feeds on the foliage.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    small, flattened, single winged black achene less than 1/8 inch in size with linear to oblong shape and smooth surface.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Notched, yellow petals with reddish-brown color at base; reddish-purple disks
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    opposite, highly dissected pinnately compound leaves with linear segments
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Humidity
    Poor Soil