Coreopsis

Coreopsis.

Coreopsis, also called calliopsis or tickseed, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Prized for its dependable nature and colourful, daisy like flowers, it has a long bloom period and is generally trouble free and easy to grow. It is in late August and early September that you can see most clearly the value of long-lasting summer perennial flowers. Tall varieties can reach 4 feet in height and are good for the back of the border and in cutting gardens. Shorter, mounding varieties are more delicate and good for edging. Most coreopsis sport yellow flowers, although a pink variety is also available. The flat fruits are small and dry and look like bugs.

Many of its species are cultivated. Coreopsis was classified into 11 sections and 114 species; there are some 75 to 80 species in all in North and South America. 45 are in the 11 North American sections, and the remaining 35 are in the South American section. All Coreopsis species were designated the state wildflower of Florida in the United States in 1991.

Coreopsis species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora acamtopappi. The sunny, summer blooming, yellow daisy-like flowers are popular in gardens to attract butterflies.