Fauna
Plant

Plains Coreopsis

Coreopsis tinctoria

Also known as Garden Tickseed, Golden Tickseed, Calliopsis

Plains coreopsis paints summer prairies, meadows, and roadsides with dense drifts of vibrant yellow and mahogany blossoms. Each flower head features notched ray florets with dark reddish-brown bases encircling a disc that produces copious nectar for native bees and butterflies. Historically prized by Indigenous peoples for yielding vivid red and yellow dyes, this hardy annual thrives in moist depressions and freely self-seeds across open landscapes.

FloweringWildflowerPollinator Magnet
Plains Coreopsis reference1 / 7
(c) Thayne Tuason, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic
Predators
  • American Goldfinch
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Caterpillars
ThreatsHerbicide runoff, mowing before seed set, and invasive weeds
HabitatsPrairies, meadows, roadsides, disturbed soils, and ditches
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusCoreopsis
  4. SpeciesCoreopsis tinctoria
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Seed Collecting: Gather mature, dry seed heads in autumn to scatter directly onto open soil.
  • Pollinator Viewing: Check open blooms on sunny mornings when native bees and hoverflies visit.
  • Garden Planning: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil where it can naturalize freely.
Related species
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