Coreopsis gladiata aka Florida Tickseed

Coreopsis gladiata belongs to the daisy family. Its other name is coastal plain tickseed. This wildflower lives for more than two years. It comes from the southeastern United States. Its native range includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. It also grows in North Carolina and South Carolina. In the wild, it grows by swamps and marshes. It grows by floodplain woods, too. Other sites include wet prairies and ditches. North Carolina listed it as significantly rare in 2024.

Plants grow in small clumps. Their thin green stems stand upright and branch. They reach 2–2.5 feet [0.61–0.76 metres] tall. The source gives two ranges for their width. Its summary lists 1.5–2 feet [0.46–0.61 metres]. Its size table lists 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres]. The green leaves feel thick and leathery. Their surface has a gloss. Leaves at the base have stalks and broad blades. Their shape ranges from oval to lance-shaped. Fewer leaves grow along the stems. These are narrow and have no stalks. All have smooth edges. The plant sheds its leaves.

Flower heads open from early September through early October. Each head measures about 0.10–0.13 feet [0.03–0.04 metres] across. Eight yellow rays ring a brown or maroon central disc. Each ray has a notch at its tip. Each disc holds 40–80 small florets, or tube-shaped flowers. Bees and butterflies come to the blooms for nectar. Black fruits form from September through December. Each fruit, called an achene, has wings that look torn. It also has two short, barbed points called awns. Songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds.

Grow this species in full sun or partial shade. It prefers acidic, sandy soil that stays moist to wet. The soil should drain well, too. Plants can cope with short spells of dry soil. Though they grow near the coast, they cannot stand salt spray. The listed hardiness range spans USDA zones 7a through 10b. Growers can raise new plants from seed. Native plant growers sell plants or seeds. Some specialty nurseries sell them, too.

This tickseed brings fall blooms to borders and cottage gardens. It suits areas where plants can spread on their own. It also suits butterfly gardens and pond edges. The blooms make useful cut flowers. Aphids and spider mites may attack plants. Watch for powdery mildew, root rot, and crown rot. The source lists southern blight as a disease problem, too. Deer may browse the plants. Rabbits pose less trouble. The source tags it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. It gives no evidence that humans can eat it.