Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is the prairie's early golden burst — one of the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring prairie, its bright yellow daisy-like flowers appearing in May and June when the grasses are still finding their footing. It is Louisiana's state wildflower, and its cheerful, long-stemmed blooms have graced the roadsides and prairies of the Gulf South for as long as the prairie has existed.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)
• Native Range: Eastern and central United States from Michigan to Florida and west to Kansas; native to Louisiana's prairies, roadsides, and open sandy areas
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
• Mature Size: 1–2 feet tall
• Bloom Time: April–July (early season; may rebloom in fall)
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy to loamy; drought-tolerant; self-seeds freely to naturalize

Prairie Movement & Ecological Role

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a critical early-season nectar source for native bees emerging from winter dormancy, including specialist Coreopsis bees (Calliopsis species) that are oligolectic on Coreopsis flowers. It is a host plant for the Wavy-lined Emerald moth and the Coreopsis Beetle. Its seeds feed small songbirds through summer. Its ability to self-seed and naturalize makes it one of the most effective wildflowers for establishing a low-maintenance prairie meadow — plant it once and it returns year after year, spreading slowly to fill the prairie strip with early-season gold.

In the Prairie Movement Strip

Part of the Prairie Movement Strip | Wind, Pollinators & Motion collection at Big Mamou Enterprises, Lanceleaf Coreopsis is the prairie strip's spring opener — Louisiana's own wildflower, golden and generous from the first warm days of April.