Coreopsis lanceolata

Its large yellow flowerheads fringed with sawtooth edges, lanceleaf coreopsis bursts into view in June, an untamed beauty of the native meadow. Thriving under full sun exposure, the plant prefers soils of average to dry moisture. Owing to its good drought tolerance and early flowering, lanceleaf coreopsis can fill roles in the garden which few other plants are suited for. Along with Ohio spiderwort, smooth penstemon, golden Alexanders, and Baptisia species, lanceleaf coreopsis is on the short list of plants that bring springtime color to sunny situations. The plant is also a perfect candidate for tree lawn plantings and other spots where water may be scarce.

Attaining a height of just 2’, lanceleaf coreopsis fares best in the garden when planted along the perimeter or among other short plants which won’t shade it out. Possessing a fairly brief lifespan (i.e., 3-5 years), lanceleaf coreopsis can persist through self-seeding, especially onto bare soil. Keeping neighboring plants from encroaching on lanceleaf coreopsis can aid its continued presence in the garden.

In terms of wildlife value, lanceleaf coreopsis is a favorite of sweat bees, and its seeds are prized by birds such as goldfinches. The plant also attracts predatory bugs that prey upon garden pests, making it useful to place lanceleaf coreopsis near one’s vegetable garden. Indeed, the presence of predatory bugs during lanceleaf coreopsis’ early season bloom can help prevent pest populations from reaching outbreak levels. Researchers at Michigan State University have noted that lanceleaf coreopsis is particularly attractive to minute pirate bugs, which are prodigious predators of sapsucking insects such as aphids, thrips, scales, and mealybugs.

Photo © Ryusuke Seto, CC BY 2.0.