Coreopsis tinctoria Seeds | Plains Coreopsis
LATIN NAME: Coreopsis tinctoria
COMMON NAME: Plains Coreopsis
Plant Profile
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is a distinctive species. Through the flowering season it keeps visiting bees well supplied. It is the sort of plant that quietly justifies the space it occupies.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the Coreopsis group, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. Coreopsis species are studied for floral development, pigment chemistry, pollination ecology and ornamental breeding. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Plains Coreopsis for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Plains coreopsis is widely appreciated for wildflower meadows, borders and pollinator gardens. Its bright flowers can provide a long season of colour, while open flower heads are accessible to many flower-visiting insects. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Coreopsis is a pollinator-friendly ornamental; the flowers of some species brew a golden tea, and snow-coreopsis of Xinjiang is a fashionable functional tea in China, studied for its flavonoids.
Growing from Seed
Plains Coreopsis is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow seed shallowly in a well-drained medium and provide bright light. Keep moisture even during establishment, then transplant young plants to a sunny position. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
It is a solid representative of the Coreopsis group, true to type from seed. From then on, routine care is all that is required.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Plains Coreopsis: