Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)

Florida's Sunshine-Powered Native Wildflower 🌼🦋🐝

Ships as 4" plant.

Florida's State Wildflower That Practically Plants Itself

If you're looking for a native Florida wildflower that delivers months of cheerful yellow blooms, supports pollinators, reseeds naturally, and asks for very little in return, Leavenworth's Tickseed deserves a spot in your landscape.

This iconic native species is one of the most recognizable wildflowers in the Southeast and is considered the most widespread of Florida's native Coreopsis species. You'll see entire roadsides glowing yellow with its flowers each spring and summer—but why leave that beauty on the highway when you can bring it home?

With bright golden blooms, exceptional pollinator value, and the ability to naturalize across large spaces, Leavenworth's Tickseed is a favorite among gardeners, native plant enthusiasts, ecological landscapers, homesteaders, and anyone wanting a low-maintenance explosion of color.

🌼 Native to Florida
🦋 Pollinator powerhouse
🌱 Reseeds readily
☀️ Loves full sun
🐝 Supports butterflies, bees & beneficial insects
🌾 Excellent for meadows, food forests & regenerative landscapes

Quick Facts Guide 🌿

Why Gardeners Love Leavenworth's Tickseed 🌼

Leavenworth's Tickseed offers one of the easiest ways to create a native wildflower meadow without extensive maintenance.

Unlike many ornamental flowers that bloom briefly and disappear, this species can flower for much of the year in Florida's climate. Bright yellow daisy-like blooms float above airy green foliage, creating a natural meadow effect that feels both wild and intentional.

Benefits include:

✅ Long bloom season

✅ Attracts native bees

✅ Supports butterflies and beneficial insects

✅ Excellent reseeding ability

✅ Native Florida genetics

✅ Drought tolerant once established

✅ Works in rain gardens and wet areas

✅ Adds biodiversity to landscapes

✅ Ideal for ecological restoration projects

The Story Behind the Name

The genus name Coreopsis comes from Greek words meaning "bug-like appearance."

No worries—the flowers don't attract ticks.

The nickname "tickseed" comes from the appearance of the seeds themselves, which resemble tiny ticks. Early botanists thought the seeds looked like miniature insects and the name stuck.

Leavenworth's Tickseed was named in honor of American botanist Melines Conklin Leavenworth, whose work contributed to understanding southeastern flora.

Today, this species has become one of Florida's most beloved native wildflowers and serves as part of the state's official wildflower designation.

What Makes This Plant So Beautiful? 🌞

Leavenworth's Tickseed creates a natural cottage-garden appearance while remaining completely native.

Features include:

🌼 1–2 inch golden-yellow flowers

🌼 Dark brown to black flower centers

🌼 Airy branching stems

🌼 Fine-textured foliage

🌼 Continuous flowering habit

🌼 Bright meadow-like appearance

The flowers seem to hover above the foliage, creating waves of yellow when planted in masses.

For maximum visual impact, plant in groups of 15–50 plants or broadcast seed over larger areas.

Pollinator Paradise 🦋🐝

This is one of the best native flowering plants for supporting beneficial insects.

Common visitors include:

🐝 Native bees

🦋 Gulf Fritillaries

🦋 Sulphur Butterflies

🦋 Skippers

🐝 Sweat Bees

🐝 Mining Bees

🪲 Beneficial Beetles

🦟 Predatory Wasps

🐦 Seed-Eating Birds

Because blooms can occur across multiple seasons, Leavenworth's Tickseed often provides nectar during periods when many other native flowers are not blooming.

Florida Seasonal Guide

Spring

Peak flowering begins.

Plants rapidly grow and produce abundant blooms.

Excellent time for pollinator activity.

Summer

Flowering often reaches maximum intensity.

Plants thrive with seasonal rains.

Natural reseeding begins.

Fall

Many plants continue blooming.

Seeds mature and spread naturally.

New seedlings may emerge.

Winter

Mild Florida winters may still support flowering.

Plants may slow growth but often remain attractive.

Seedlings establish for the following season.

Unlike deciduous fruit trees, Leavenworth's Tickseed does not experience a traditional dormant leaf-drop cycle.

USDA Zones & Climate

Best adapted to Florida, Gulf Coast states, and much of the southeastern United States.

Can be grown farther north as an annual.

Can It Be Grown In Containers?

Absolutely.

Container Recommendations:

• 1-gallon minimum

• Larger containers produce larger displays

• Use well-draining potting soil

• Maintain consistent moisture

• Place in full sun

Container-grown plants often bloom heavily and can provide color on patios, balconies, and pollinator gardens.

Indoor growing is generally not recommended because flowering requires high light intensity.

Companion Plants For Native Landscapes 🌾

Excellent companions include:

🌿 Simpson's Stopper

🌿 Beautyberry

🌿 Tropical Sage

🌿 Dune Sunflower

🌿 Blue Porterweed

🌿 Muhly Grass

🌿 Fakahatchee Grass

🌿 Mexican Sunflower

🌿 Native Milkweed Species

These combinations create a highly functional pollinator habitat while improving overall biodiversity.

Planting & Care Instructions

Before Planting

After receiving your Leavenworth's Tickseed, keep it in its nursery container for approximately 30 days or until active new growth is observed.

Allow the plant to recover from shipping stress before transplanting.

Where To Plant

Choose:

☀️ Full sun

☀️ Open exposure

☀️ Areas receiving 6+ hours direct sunlight

☀️ Moist to average soils

Avoid:

❌ Heavy shade

❌ Constantly dry locations

❌ Compacted soils

GreenDreams "High & Tight" Planting Method

Dig a hole only slightly wider than the container.

Plant at the same depth it was growing previously.

Backfill firmly using native soil and compost.

Top dress with:

🌿 Compost

🌿 Biochar

🌿 Azomite

🌿 Organic fertilizer

Apply hardwood mulch around the planting area but keep mulch away from stems.

Watering

Container Plants

Water daily during warm weather.

Adjust based on rainfall and temperature.

In-Ground Plants

First 30 Days:
Water daily or every other day.

Established Plants:
Water during extended droughts.

Drip irrigation is preferred over overhead watering.

Fertilization

Leavenworth's Tickseed generally requires minimal fertilization.

For maximum flowering:

🌿 Light compost applications

🌿 Slow-release organic fertilizer in spring

🌿 Avoid excessive nitrogen

Too much fertilizer may encourage foliage at the expense of blooms.

Pruning

To encourage reblooming:

✂️ Deadhead spent flowers

✂️ Trim plants back by one-third after heavy flowering

✂️ Mow or string-trim large patches to 6–8 inches if needed

This often stimulates another flush of flowers.

Troubleshooting Guide 🔍

Problem:

Few Flowers

✅ Usually caused by insufficient sunlight.

Move plants to full sun.

Problem:

Plants Falling Over

✅ Often caused by rich soil or excessive fertilizer.

Reduce fertility.

Problem:

Poor Reseeding

✅ Soil may be too dry.

Allow seed heads to mature naturally.

Problem:

Yellowing Leaves

✅ Temporary moisture stress.

Adjust irrigation.

Problem:

Sparse Growth

✅ Competition from aggressive neighboring plants.

Provide more open space.

Is This Plant For Me?

Perfect For:

🌼 Native plant enthusiasts

🦋 Pollinator gardeners

🌾 Meadow installations

🏡 Cottage gardens

🌳 Food forest support plantings

🌿 Regenerative landscapes

🌞 Sunny roadside plantings

Not Ideal For:

❌ Deep shade gardens

❌ Formal manicured landscapes

❌ Extremely dry desert conditions

❌ Areas where reseeding is undesirable

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leavenworth's Tickseed Florida native?

Yes. It is native throughout most of Florida and occurs only minimally outside the state.

Does it come back every year?

Usually through self-seeding. Individual plants may behave as annuals or short-lived perennials.

Is it good for butterflies?

Excellent. It attracts numerous butterfly species and other pollinators.

Can it tolerate drought?

Moderately, but flowering is best with consistent moisture.

Does it attract bees?

Yes. Native bees are among its most frequent visitors.

Can I grow it from seed?

Very easily. In fact, reseeding is one of its greatest strengths.

Shipping Details For Continental US 🚚

Our smaller 4-inch and 1-gallon Leavenworth's Tickseed plants ship exceptionally well throughout Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.

Customers in northern and western states should understand that longer UPS Ground transit times may increase plant stress during shipment.

California shipments may occasionally experience additional inspection delays.

Plants may require recovery time after arrival.

We recommend waiting 30 days or until new growth appears before transplanting.

Shipping occurs every Monday from Florida.

Buyer discretion is advised during periods of extreme heat or freezing weather.

GreenDreams is not responsible for weather-related damage occurring during transit.

Local Pickup 🌾

Looking for larger specimens?

We often have larger sizes and specialty native plants available at our retail nursery that may not be listed online.

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

🌾 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tuesday–Friday 9AM–5PM

🌞 Saturday 8AM–3PM

🌿 Stop by our regenerative nursery and discover what's blooming this week!

Beyond The Plant: GreenDreams Services 🌿

At GreenDreams, we do more than grow plants—we help build regenerative ecosystems.

🌳 Edible landscape design

🚜 Installation & project management

🚚 Bulk compost, mulch, biochar & soil delivery

🌾 Wholesale native plant solutions

🌿 Large-scale regenerative agriculture consulting

Let our team help you create a thriving, pollinator-rich paradise starting with Leavenworth's Tickseed.