Coreopsis tinctoria

A prairie flower with lilting grace that is tough as nails; it’s heat and drought tolerant and not fussy in the least about soil. Finely cut bright green foliage clothes the wiry stems supporting the dancing molten-gold blooms. Shear midseason for continued bloom and support in rich soils. Self sows.

Every new visitor to the nursery during spring or early summer invariably asks the name of this brilliant annual from the North American prairies. Under my conditions it is remarkably fecund and I have a tendency to let it have it's way, mostly. Drifts of diminutive specimens can be found in the paving cracks and you have to wade through their larger siblings that have found more hospitable homes. An opportunistic seedling can usually be found in flower at any time of the year and most customers must go home with at least one or two hitch-hikers stowed away amongst their purchases. Even in their thousands there are nearly as many variations in colour and form of flower, from clear yellow, some with cinnamon brushing, to mahogany red and every combination in between, that is yellow with a red centre of varying size. Some plants have flowers with extra smaller petals in the centre so as to appear almost anemone centred, while others have rolled flute-like petals somewhat resembling seashells, which is a name often given this flower form. Whatever form the flowers take the foliage is always finely dissected, dark green, occasionally red tinted, glossy and almost fern-like, in a rosette which firsts mounds, then elongates with a sturdy stem, atop which is carried the much branched head of daisy-like flowers. Scratch seeds into any bare soil, sand or clay during autumn. They will persist from year to year so long as adequate moisture is available to complete flowering and seed set, a little additional water late in the season is usually required if relying on rainfall. Each packet should contain at least 50 seeds. And then some.

If you want a long flower show with almost no bother, this is a wonderful choice. Incredibly long blooming, from June till Fall, it abundantly produces vivid yellow Cosmos-type flowers 2" across, with wine red centers on long wiry stems which move with the wind. This plant loves dry soil and no feeding. Grows 2-3’ tall with a 1’ spread. It also reseeds readily.