The lance-leaved coreopsis attracts pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies but is considered an invasive species in many countries, such as Japan. Originally native to the eastern U.S., it has since spread around the world. The lance-leaved coreopsis grows well in wet or dry soil.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Coreopsis lanceolata, commonly known as lanceleaf coreopsis, lanceleaf tickseed, lance-leaved coreopsis, or sand coreopsis, is a North American species of tickseed in the family Asteraceae.
The genus name Coreopsis means “bug-like”; it comes from the Greek words “koris”, meaning “bug” and “opsis”, meaning “like”. The genus name, as well as the common name, tickseed, comes from the fact that the seeds are small and resemble ticks. The specific epithet lanceolata refers to the shape of the leaves.
It is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States and naturalized in Canada, the western United States, Mesoamerica, South America, South Africa and eastern Australia. Under natural conditions, it is found in open woodlands, prairies, plains, glades, meadows, and savannas.
Coreopsis lanceolata is a perennial plant sometimes attaining a height of over 60 cm (2 ft). The plant produces yellow flower heads singly at the top of a naked flowering stalk, each head containing both ray florets and disc florets. Each flower measures 5–8 cm (2–3 in) across. Basal leaves are typically narrow, lance-shaped, and 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long with smooth margins. They have thin petioles that are 3–10 cm (1–4 in) long. Leaves higher up the stem are sessile and may be unlobed or pinnately lobed. The stem leaves are opposite and generally appear only on the lower half of the stem. After flowering, the ray florets are replaced by brown achenes that are 3 mm (0.1 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) across.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Lance-leaved coreopsis requires sufficient sunlight and prefers direct sunlight, so it is good for sunny gardens or balconies. To grow indoors, at least 6 hours of sunlight is needed. For maximum blooming, over 12 hours of sunlight is best.
Lance-leaved coreopsis can survive in partially-shaded environments. However, excessive shade can result in decreased photosynthetic rate, slow growth rate, produce thin, weak stems, difficulty in branching, and fewer flowers. Your plant will be healthier in a bright place.
Temperature and Humidity
As a native plant from southeastern Canada to the central and eastern United States, Coreopsis lanceolata is tolerant of heat and humidity and it is also winter-hardy to USDA zone 4a.
Watering
New plants, or divided plants, should be watered until they are established. Once you know it’s established, you don’t need to give Coreopsis lanceolata extra water in dry spells.
Soil
Lance-leaved coreopsis adapts to most soil; some varieties even tolerate dry and rocky soil. However, it prefers moist, loose, permeable, well-drained sandy loam, with a pH value of 5.5-6.5. Add a permeable and loose medium, such as sphagnum moss and coco coir, to garden soil and organic matter to increase water retention. An example of a culture medium formula is 1/2 coco coir + 1/4 garden soil + 1/4 vermiculite or river sand. NPK fertilizer and organic fertilizer should be added in spring.
Fertilizing
Unless you planted Coreopsis lanceolata in extremely nutrient-deprived soil, you don’t need to fertilize it. It grows well in poor soil.
Pruning
Lance-leaved coreopsis rarely needs to be pruned. In order to promote blooming, prune the terminal bud when it grows to 5 cm. The same should be done again when branches are 10 cm long; remove thin or weak branchlets then too. Pruning withered flowers in time avoids consuming excessive nutrients, and lance-leaved coreopsis will bloom again in fall.
Propagation
After two to three years, coreopsis needs to be divided so it maintains its vigor and compact shape. If not divided, Coreopsis lanceolata won’t live very long. Dividing the plant is also an easy way to propagate it. The best time to do that is in the early spring. Here’s how it’s done:
- Carefully dig up the entire plant, leaving the roots as intact as possible.
- With a sharp trowel or a garden knife, cut the clump into smaller sections. Discard the woody center of the plant. Each of the remaining sections should have several healthy roots.
- Replant the sections in a sunny location with excellent drainage, at the same depth as the original plant. Keep the new plants well-watered until they are established and show new growth.
How to Grow from Seed
Like many coreopsis varieties, this variety can also be grown from seed. It often reseeds itself to form large, naturalized colonies.
- The seeds require 30 days of cold stratification to break their dormancy. This can be done in two ways. In late winter, sow the seeds outdoors in containers or an outdoor weed-free seedbed. Or you can place the seeds in a sealed plastic bag with a damp paper towel and store them in a refrigerator at 33 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 month before planting them in garden soil or in pots.
- Plant the seeds about 1/8 inch deep just below the soil surface; they need light to germinate.
- When the seedlings are 2 inches tall, you can transplant them into the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
Potting and Repotting
The plant is suitable for container growing. Choose a container at least 8 to 10 inches deep and wide with large drainage holes and fill it with a well-draining potting mix because coreopsis does not like wet feet. The container should be large enough to allow the fibrous rhizomes root system to multiply freely. Divide and repot the plant in a fresh potting mix when the roots have filled the pot.
Unlike in-ground plants, potted coreopsis needs regular watering because potting soil dries out much faster than garden soil.
Overwintering
The plant is hardy down to USDA zone 4a and does not need any special winter protection but it benefits from covering the base of the plant with 2 to 3 inches of mulch to protect the roots from the cold. Cut the foliage back almost to the ground in late summer or early fall and it will regrow before dying back when the plant goes dormant. Leave the foliage on the plant and clean it up in the spring.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Generally, the plant has no serious insect problems but it may attract slugs and snails as well as aphids, flea beetles, and cucumber beetles.
A commonly found but harmless disease is powdery mildew. Potential, but rather rare diseases, include botrytis blight, bacterial and fungal leaf spots, and aster yellows.
Common Problems With Coreopsis Lanceolata
In soil that is too wet, especially in the winter months when the plant is dormant, it can develop stem rot or root rot, which shortens its life span. Soils that are too moist or overfertilized can also make the plant sprawl, developing weak stems that flop over.
The plant can also reseed quite aggressively, which can become a problem if it’s competing with other plants.
III. Uses and Benefits
Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial that offers plenty of garden appeal with its bright orange flowers which attract butterflies. The plant can be used to provide attractive ground cover on poor, dry soils. Alternatively, it can be grown in wildflower gardens or meadows and looks great when grown with common poppy, lilac cranesbill, and prairie dropseed.
Coreopsis lanceolata is useful for pollinator restoration in large urban cities, providing a food source for animals that drink the nectar and/or eat the seed.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Generally speaking, lance-leaved coreopsis can bloom twice a year, once in spring or summer and once in fall. Its flowers can be appreciated for a long time. If it is not harvested, it can bloom as long as one or two months. After harvest, the vase life of single flower is between three and seven days. Use sharp gardening scissors to cut at the base of the stem, and prune the base of the stem obliquely at 45° to increase the water absorption area. Put it in a vase with clean water.
