Educational Story
The Florida Tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii, is in the genus that includes the Florida state wildflower. Bright yellow flowers bloom year round in sun or shade, often tolerating poor soils. It’s a fast growing perennial that re-seeds itself, making it easy to grow and enjoy. Lady Bird Johnson, first lady to the 36th President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, saw roadside restoration as an ecological opportunity to bring back the species richness that was once there. In 1965 the Highway Beautification Act was passed and is still upheld today by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Tickseed is one of the many wildflowers used in roadside restoration projects across the southeastern United States and can be seen blanketing highway roadsides in spectacular yellow blooms, typically in the summer. It is an important food source for pollinators.
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Gardening Facts
| Scientific Name: | Coreopsis leavenworthii |
| Common Name: | Tickseed |
| Description of facts and concepts: | Small herbaceous annual with bright yellow flowers. |
| Seed or division information: | Self seeds |
| Date of flower’s bloom (Month and week): | All year |
| Ecoregion: | Wet pinelands, disturbed sites |
| Color of Flower: | Yellow |
| Height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Spread: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Family: | Asteraceae (aster or daisy) |
| Soil Type: Base to Acidic | Acidic to neutral 5.6-7.7 |
| Soil: Dry to Wet | Moist |
| Light: Sun to Shade | Full sun to high shade from pines |
| Zone | 8A-11B |