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Native Plant Society of Texas

Collin County Chapter

Lanceleaf Coreopsis – Perennial with Sunny Yellow Flowers

Spring 2022 – NICE Plant of the Season

Written by Dr. Becca Dickstein

Description:

Photos courtesy of Andrea Marshall

Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolate, takes both its common and Latin names from its lance-like leaves. Its opposite 3-4 inch leaves are deeply cut, appearing almost like separate leaflets. It grows to about 1 ft tall, with the flowers reaching to 2.5 ft tall in full bloom. Lanceleaf Coreopsis has branching stems that can form substantial colonies, a beautiful sight in spring. In nature, this native plant is broadly distributed in prairies, meadows and woodlands throughout the US.

Flowers and Seeds:

Lanceleaf Coreopsis blooms in April through June each year with cheery, fragrant, yellow, 1-1.5 inch daisy-like flowers. These are followed by small nutlets containing seeds that easily self-sow.

Planting sites:

Lanceleaf Coreopsis thrives in full sun to part shade. It is tolerant of most soil types as long as they are well-drained.

Watering Instructions:

Lanceleaf coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata COLA5

Water Lanceleaf Coreopsis when planting it or its seed. Once established, it is drought tolerant.

Comments:

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a short-lived perennial that is easy to grow as long as it is not overwatered. It can be propagated by cuttings or by seed. Its cheerful golden flowers have a long bloom-time and serve as a nectar source for butterflies and bees. Deadheading the spent blooms will prolong the flowering period. Lanceleaf Coreopsis has a place in cutting gardens, cottage gardens and borders.

Consider planting Lanceleaf Coreopsis instead of non-native Petunia, Begonia, or Snapdragons. Companion species include Zexmenia (Wedelia texana), Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea), milkweeds like Antelope Horn (Asclepias asperula), Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata), Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) and Sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri). Lanceleaf Coreopsis survived the February 2021 winter freeze and it is deer resistant.

Many thanks to the Trinity Forks Chapter of the NPSOT for the NICE Plant of the Season descriptions. Look for the NICE Plant of the Season signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating North Texas nursery. Thank you for using native plants in your landscapes. NICE = Natives Improve & Conserve Environments

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason