Coreopsis major aka Forest Tickseed

Coreopsis major is a herbaceous perennial, a plant with soft stems that lives for years. It belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae. People call it greater tickseed or greater coreopsis. It comes from the southeastern United States. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Its large flowers and tall stems help explain these names. This wildflower suits native gardens, meadows, and prairie plantings.

Plants reach 2–3 feet [0.61–0.91 metres] tall in gardens. Some reach 4 feet [1.22 metres]. Their spread reaches about 2 feet [0.61 metres]. Stems grow upright and branch near their tops. They bear loose groups of flowers. Lower and middle leaves grow in pairs, with no stalks. Each leaf has three parts. This makes them look like whorls of six leaves. The smaller upper leaves have no divisions. Stolons, or spreading stems, help plants spread over time. Fallen seed helps them spread too.

The flower heads look like daisies. They measure about 0.17 feet [0.05 metres] across. Bright yellow ray flowers ring a yellow central disk. The disk sometimes has a reddish tint. Each ray has a pointed tip with no teeth. The listed main bloom time runs from June to July. The fuller account gives late spring through late summer. Butterflies visit the blooms. The flowers add bright color to wildflower plantings.

Grow this species in full sun and soil that drains well. It thrives in poor sand or rocky ground. It suits dry soil or soil with a fair amount of moisture. Plants cope with heat, humid air, and drought. They also resist deer and grow in shallow, rocky soil. The listed hardiness range covers USDA zones 5–9. Plants need little care and suit dry sites. They also work in borders where you can control their spread.

Remove faded flower stalks to spur more blooms and limit seedlings. Plants form larger patches, but sources do not class them as invasive. You may need to divide border plants every two or three years. Cut plants back hard in summer if growth becomes untidy. Rich or moist soil can make stems sprawl. Wet soil that drains poorly can lead to crown rot. Sources report no serious insect or disease problems. They give no facts on food use or toxicity for this species.