Gardening information for Plains (Dyer's) Coreopsis

1. Plains/Dyer’s Coreopsis – Coreopsis tinctoria (cor-ee-OP-sis tinc-TOR-ee-uh )
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Native to: Western and Southern North America, particularly the Midwest (including Eastern CO);
well-drained soils in open meadows, prairies, roadsides and barrens.
Growth characteristics: herbaceous annual mature height: 1-4 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Annuals or short-lived upright herbaceous perennial wildflower. Foliage medium green, lacy. Leaves
single- or double-pinnate. Roots net-like. A very pretty, garden-adapted plant.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms during the warm season, often with long bloom season. Flower heads are
typical of Sunflower family, with flat yellow and maroon ray flowers and maroon disc flowers. Very
showy in bloom, with numerous flowers per plant. Excellent pollinator plant. Flowers contain red
and yellow natural dyes.
Uses in the garden: Often used either in mixed flower beds or prairie/grassland plantings.
Spectacular when massed, particularly when contrasted with green background shrubs! Attracts
pollinators to vegetable and herb gardens. A traditional medicinal and natural dye plant. Nice filler
around maturing shrubs and perennials. Cultivars are readily available as seed.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native sunflowers, yellow flowered perennials.
Attracts: Attracts native bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Excellent bird habitat: provides
seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade.
Soil Any texture, except those with very poor drainage; most pH, including alkali.
Water Adaptable: regular water to moderately dry (Water Zones 2 & 3).
Fertilizer Not really needed unless grown in containers.
Other Light organic mulch, inorganic mulch or none.
Management: Fairly low maintenance but re-seeds well in many gardens. Deadhead to prevent re-
seeding (will naturalize if allowed to). Delay pruning until early spring to provide seed for birds.
Propagation: from seed: easy by divisions: possible
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): many on-line seed sources 7/9/21
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