Coreopsis calliopsidea aka Leafstem Tickseed

Coreopsis calliopsidea belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its common name is leafstem tickseed. It has a second scientific name, Leptosyne calliopsidea. This plant comes from California. It grows there on dry, open ground with gravel. Records place its habitats at about 492 to 3,281 feet [150–1,000 metres] above sea level. Kew places it in a subtropical climate zone. The RHS gives its range as southern California. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. This plant is an annual. That means it completes its life cycle within one year. The supplied accounts give no width for a full-grown plant. They give no details about its leaves or how it branches. Plants For A Future lists its bloom time as September to October. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers. The plant also has value for wildlife. The evidence does not describe this species' fruit or seed shape.

Grow this tickseed in full sun, not in shade. It can grow in ordinary garden soil. Plants For A Future favours rich loam for garden use. This soil should drain well but still hold moisture. Sandy soils suit it too. It accepts mildly acid soil and neutral soil. Mildly alkaline soil suits it as well. The soil may be dry or moist. Once settled in, plants can cope with drought. This does not tell us what seedlings need. The sources give no hardiness zone for this species.

The sources list garden beds as a place to grow it. Its blooms help bees, beyond its wider value for wildlife. Plants For A Future says to raise it from seed. Sow in March in a cold frame. Move seedlings to their own pots when large enough to handle. Plant them outside in summer. You can also sow straight outdoors if you have enough seed. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.

The flowers and stems yield an orange to reddish-orange dye. This is the only specific non-food use in these sources. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It rates both uses at zero out of five. The same source reports no known hazards. This does not prove safety for every person or pet. It also lists no weed potential for this species.