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Native Plant Society of Texas

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis lanceolata

Other common name(s):

Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Lanceleaf Tickseed, Sand Coreopsis

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
2
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Gravelly, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Easy to grow, drought tolerant. A short lived perennial, but it self-seeds readily, and spreads by rhizomes. Give lots of room since it will form colonies, or thin according to garden space. Although it is reported to grow in a variety of light, moisture, and soil conditions, it will tend to get leggy in the shade, and will not grow well in heavy soils with poor drainage. Old blooms can be removed to prolong flowering, or let it go to seed to attract birds and other wildlife. Makes good cut flowers. Can be grown in container gardens. Propagation: clump division, seed.

Comments

Blooms March-August, depending on growing conditions. Flower stems grow from a basal rosette. Although, as the name implies, it has lance shaped leaves, some are deeply cut. Leaves. The showy, yellow, daisy-like flowers occur singly at the end of stems. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Especially attractive to the Buckeye Butterfly.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Coreopsis crassifolia, Coreopsis heterogyna, Coreopsis lanceolata var. villosa

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COLA5. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Coreopsis+lanceolata&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=2648&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt. 6) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 52, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 8) https://www.centraltexasgardener.org/resource/coreopsis/#:~:text=Lanceolata%20has%20bright%20yellow%20leaves,relatives%20from%20the%20sunflower%20family. 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coreopsis_lanceolata, 10) Wasowski, Sally and Andy, 1998, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, pg 184, 11) https://seedsource.com/lanceleaf-coreopsis/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Bud Division Division should be used on plants that are a couple of years old. Divide the basal rosettes. 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. Best done in winter or early spring. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COLA5 2) https://www.thespruce.com/coreopsis-lanceolata-7255292#:~:text=After%20two%20to%20three%20years,established%20and%20show%20new%20growth. 3) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP058
Seed No Treatment Sown in Spring. Seeds of this species benefit from light and KNO3 enrichment for germination. Nutlets are mature and ready for collection about four weeks after the flowers wither. Watch the inner series of bracts; when they begin to darken, it is time to collect. Remove chaff and store 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COLA5 2) https://www.fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/coreopsis_lanceolata_lanceleaftickseed_3_0.pdf 3) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP058
Softwood Cutting Take softwood cuttings of the basal rosette. https://www.fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/coreopsis_lanceolata_lanceleaftickseed_3_0.pdf
Seed Stratification 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. 1) https://www.thespruce.com/coreopsis-lanceolata-7255292#:~:text=After%20two%20to%20three%20years,established%20and%20show%20new%20growth. 2) https://brightlanegardens.com/native-plants/plant-glossary/native-perennials/lanceleaf-coreopsis-coreopsis-lanceolata/

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason