# Leavenworth's Tickseed (*Coreopsis leavenworthii*)

Leavenworth's Tickseed is a bright yellow flower that loves to bloom in sunny places. It has pretty petals that look like little rays of sunshine, making gardens and fields look cheerful!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Leavenworth's Tickseed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coreopsis_leavenworthii_%28Leavenworth's_Tickseed%29_%2812743506864%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coreopsis_leavenworthii_%28Leavenworth's_Tickseed%29_%2812743506864%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Leavenworth's Tickseed has cheerful, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers, often with darker yellow or brownish centers. Its slender stems bear narrow, grass-like leaves, creating a delicate, airy appearance that stands out in sunny fields.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- It loves sandy, poor soil where many other plants struggle to find enough nutrients to grow!
- Its bright yellow petals can completely cover sunny fields, making them look like golden carpets!
- Native Americans sometimes used parts of tickseed plants to create beautiful yellow dyes!
- The name "Tickseed" comes from its small, dark seeds that look a bit like tiny ticks!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Defender:** Leavenworth's Tickseed can thrive in dry, sandy soil that would harm many other plants, helping it survive arid conditions.
- **Seed Sprinkler:** It releases many tiny seeds that easily re-grow nearby, allowing it to quickly spread and colonize new areas.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Its bright yellow flowers attract busy bees and butterflies, ensuring its seeds are made and new plants can grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — sips nectar, aiding reproduction
- **Eaten by:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Spinus tristis*) — feeds on mature seeds
- **Eaten by:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — grazes on tender leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Leavenworth's Tickseed?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Leavenworth's Tickseed?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Leavenworth's Tickseed spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Leavenworth's Tickseed?

2-3 cm

### When does Leavenworth's Tickseed bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Leavenworth's Tickseed edible?

No

### Is Leavenworth's Tickseed toxic?

None

### What is Leavenworth's Tickseed's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve
- [Cayo Costa State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cayo-costa-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park

## 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: [Leavenworth's Tickseed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leavenworths-tickseed)