Tickseed
Florida's official state wildflower, and it acts like it. Multiple native species, all easy gold.
Florida's official state wildflower, a cheerful yellow daisy that reseeds itself.
Invasive status alert
Coreopsis, called tickseed, is the Florida state wildflower, a designation that covers the whole genus. This entry covers two I use most: Leavenworth's tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii), the common statewide one, and lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata).
Why it works here
Coreopsis is the state wildflower for good reason: bright yellow daisy flowers, often with a dark center, on airy stems that hum with pollinators. Leavenworth's tickseed grows nearly throughout Florida and can bloom close to year-round here, which is remarkable. It is an annual to short-lived perennial that keeps itself going by reseeding, so instead of one plant lasting forever you get a self-renewing drift. I use it in sunny wildflower beds, meadow-style plantings, and anywhere I want long yellow color that feeds bees and butterflies and, honestly, just makes people smile.
Care
Full sun and moist, slightly acidic soil is the sweet spot, it does not love bone-dry conditions the way some natives do. Water it through dry spells to keep it blooming. The key to keeping it around is letting it reseed: leave some spent flower heads to drop seed into bare soil between plants, and do not mulch so heavily that seedlings cannot get started. You can shear it back near the end of a bloom flush for another round of flowers. Compost lightly, no synthetic fertilizer.
Common problems
Fades out if it cannot reseed: the honest caveat. If you deadhead every flower or mulch too thick, the plants die and nothing replaces them. Leave some seed heads and some open soil.
Struggles in drought: it wants moisture to bloom well. Give it a spot that stays a little moist, not a hot dry corner.
Flops when crowded: give it sun and room. Shear it back mid-season if it gets leggy.
Common questions
Is this really the state wildflower?
Yes. Coreopsis, tickseed, was named Florida's state wildflower, and the honor covers the whole genus, not just one species.
My tickseed disappeared after a year, what happened?
It is mostly an annual or short-lived perennial that survives by reseeding. Let some flower heads mature and drop seed, and keep bare soil nearby, and it comes back on its own.
Full sun or shade?
Full sun, no question. And keep the soil a little moist. Those two things give you the longest, heaviest bloom.
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