# Coreopsis (*Coreopsis tinctoria*)

Coreopsis has bright yellow flowers that look like little suns! They bloom all summer long and are loved by butterflies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 16
- **Habitat:** Fields and gardens
- **Also known as:** Goldenwave, Tickseed

![Coreopsis](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426305/objects/4972.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coreopsis has cheerful, daisy-like flowers, often bright yellow with dark red or maroon centers, though some can be entirely reddish-brown. Its slender stems hold these vibrant blossoms high above delicate, feathery leaves, creating a bright splash of color.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Coreopsis

## Interesting facts

- A single plant can produce thousands of seeds!
- Its petals can make vibrant yellow and red dyes!
- Some types are called 'Tickseed' because their seeds look like tiny ticks!
- These sunny flowers track the sun's path across the sky!

## Special abilities

- **Prolific Seeder:** Coreopsis produces many seeds that help it quickly grow new plants and spread across open areas.
- **Drought Resilience:** Coreopsis can thrive in dry conditions because it has adapted to survive with less water, keeping its blooms vibrant.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Coreopsis has bright, colorful flowers that attract many different insects to help it spread pollen.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Butterflies sip its sweet nectar.
- **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees help spread its pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Spinus tristis*) — Finches feast on its seeds.

## Traits

- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coreopsis?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Coreopsis?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Coreopsis spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Coreopsis?

2-5 cm

### When does Coreopsis bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Coreopsis edible?

Yes

### Is Coreopsis toxic?

None

### What is Coreopsis's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden
- [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District
- [Convent and Academy of the Visitation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/convent-and-academy-of-the-visitation) — Alabama, US · Campus
- [Darlington Agency](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/darlington-agency) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District
- [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District
- [Inman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inman-park) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood

[View all places to see Coreopsis](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coreopsis)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Coreopsis: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coreopsis)