Coreopsis tinctoria Seeds – Golden Tickseed, Pollinator-Friendly, Fast-Growing Wildflower! 🌼
### **Coreopsis tinctoria – Plains Coreopsis, Golden Tickseed, Goldenwave, Calliopsis
#### **Latin Name**
*Coreopsis tinctoria*
#### **Description**
- **Height:** 1 to 4 feet (30 to 120 cm)
- **Width:** 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm)
- **Rate of Growth:** Fast-growing, often flowering in the first season
- **Leaf Type:** Delicate, feathery, deeply divided green leaves
- **Habit:** Upright, branching annual or short-lived perennial
- **Flowers:** Daisy-like blooms, typically with golden yellow petals and a deep reddish-brown center
- **Bloom Time:** Summer to early fall
#### **Native Range & Interesting Facts**
- Native to **North America**, particularly the central and western United States and Canada.
- Often found in **prairies, meadows, and roadsides**, thriving in poor soils.
- **Pollinator-friendly:** Attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
- The plant has been historically used to make **natural dye**, giving it the name “tinctoria.”
- Also called **Golden Tickseed** or **Calliopsis** due to its bright, eye-catching flowers.
#### **How to Grow from Seed**
1. **When to Sow:** Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or direct sow after danger of frost has passed.
2. **Germination Temperature:** 65–75°F (18–24°C)
3. **Light Requirement:** Seeds need light to germinate—press them onto the soil surface but do not cover.
4. **Watering:** Keep soil moist but not waterlogged until germination (7-14 days).
5. **Transplanting:** If started indoors, harden off seedlings before planting outside.
#### **Care in the Garden**
- **Soil:** Prefers **well-drained**, sandy or loamy soil but tolerates poor soil.
- **Sun:** Thrives in **full sun** (at least 6 hours daily).
- **Watering:** Drought-tolerant once established; occasional watering in prolonged dry periods.
- **Deadheading:** Encourages continuous blooming and prevents self-seeding if unwanted.
- **Fertilizing:** Generally not needed; too much fertilizer can reduce flowering.
- **Pests/Diseases:** Generally pest-free but may attract aphids or mildew in humid conditions.
#### **Hardiness Zone**
- Typically grown as an **annual**, but may self-seed in **USDA Zones 2-11**.