Lanceleaf Coreopsis Grow and Care Guide


Lanceleaf Coreopsis bee

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a great addition to any wildflower garden, micro prairie, or meadow.  Also known as Sand Coreopsis or Lanceleaf Tickseed, it is a native perennial can grow in horrible soil, from clay to pure sand.  It is a clump forming evergreen that will be somewhat invasive in that the seeds get dropped near mother plants and germinate the following Spring.  However, the flowers are very showy and make a great cut flower.  These plants look best planted very close to other plants of similar to taller size, as if isolated the stems tend to fall over from the weight of the seed heads.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis Facts

  • Lanceleaf coreopsis is a member of the Asteraceae family.
  • It grows from Canada to Mexico, in the central and eastern half of United States
  • While not always a long-lived perennial, it can grow in some of the most inhospitable, infertile areas
  • This is a beneficial plant to bees, particularly short-tongued bees
  • Lanceleaf Coreopsis makes a great cutflower.  There are numerous blooms and are on tall stalks.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of Lanceleaf Coreopsis is Coreopsis lanceolata

General Description and Characteristics of Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a short lived perennial that grows approximately 2-3’ tall (1.5-2 m) producing yellow disc/daisy like flowers. [1] The flowers are single bloom per stalk that can branch to produce other flowers.  Typically, if specimen is isolated stems can flop over without support from other plants.

To counter act this plant flopping over, we have begun trimming it when buds are forming.  Basically, I will cut the stalks in half.  New buds will form on small stems lower to the ground, and this reduces the plant from tipping over.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis Growing Conditions

Providing a full sun environment with well-drained soil is the optimum conditions for Lanceleaf Coreopsis to thrive.  But this plant can grow in most any soil, as I have given plants away to people who grew them in sand at their beach house.  And I myself grow them in rocky clay.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis flowers bloom

Lanceleaf Coreopsis will self-seed vigorously, so be aware that in a well manicured flowerbed you will likely be pulling many seedlings.

Garden Uses

This plant works great in a wildflower bed, micro-prairie, or isolated stand that can be mowed around.  These are virtually maintenance free uses for this plant.  If used in a landscape border, flower bed, or anything that is ‘manicured’, you must be prepared to remove unwanted seedlings.

Check out our detailed video guide on Coreopsis!

Additionally, the plant will look better if you trim the stems just before flowering.  What I mean is to cut back stems to 1’ tall or less just before blooming, as this will make the plant reproduce buds, but at a lower level  I do this to help prevent my stems from flopping over.

Deadheading to get more blooms

As with many flowers, deadheading, or old blooms after they have completed blooming promotes more flowers.  I do this to keep that beautiful golden yellow color as long as I can.

Growing From Seed

Seeds germinate best after having approximately 30 days cold/moist stratification.  So you should either stratify seed, winter sow, or plant in very early spring just after the ground thaws.  Sow seeds and gently rake in, making sure they go no deeper than 1/8” (3 mm) deep.  Seeds can also be pressed into the soil.  Germination can be improved if the seed bed is firm.

lanceleaf coreopsis seedling
Lanceleaf Coreopsis seedling

I find that when I plant seeds of any Coreopsis species, I have more success if I leave a few seeds just on top of the soil.  But still pressing them into the ground lightly.  When doing so in early Spring and the ground is nearly always moist, I seem to have very high germination rates.

Purchase Seed

We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. (We may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links, at no cost to you. This helps support our website.)

Learn to Save Seeds from Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Head over to this article to learn how to save seeds from Lanceleaf Coreopsis!  Simple guide on all you need to know to save and store your seeds to propagate more plants for free!

Plenty of free seedlings from established plants

If you have a single specimen in your garden, it is very likely that you will receive many volunteer seedlings the following Spring.  I had to pull about 20 seedlings the following year after initially planting this flower.  The young seedlings transplant quite easily, as I believe all of mine survived.

Propagating Lanceleaf Coreopsis by Division

Lanceleaf Coreopsis can be split via division either very early in Spring, or in fall well after blooming.  Dig out around the plant and pull up the root ball.  Then use a shovel, garden knife, or saw to split the root ball.  Replant immediately.  See our detailed and illustrated guide on dividing plants here;

Faunal Associations

This flower is pollinated by many species of bees.  I often see very tiny native bees or sweat flies pollinating the flowers.  Additionally, butterflies will pollinate this plant regularly.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis flower

In my experience, Lanceleaf Coreopsis seems to be very deer and rabbit resistant.  I’ve not noticed damage to leaves or buds from deer or rabbits, and I’ve had the plant for several years now.

Disease Problems

Powdery mildew is the only disease I’ve noticed.  And it can occur when plants are very close together and in a humid environment with low airflow.  Powdery mildew may be unsightly, but generally doesn’t seem to harm the plant in my experience.

You can treat this with fungicides or a mixture of 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water.  Additionally, thinning the plants to provide better airflow can counteract the disease.

Native plant growing profiles

[1] – Duncan, Wilbur H., and Marion B. Duncan. Wildflowers of the eastern United States. Vol. 20. University of Georgia Press, 2005.

Joe Foster

Hi - I grew up outdoors in nature - hiking, fishing, hunting. In high school I got my first job at a garden center where I learned to garden and landscape. I've been growing plants from seed and designing native plant gardens for over 10 years. I hope to share some of my knowledge with you! You may have seen some of my videos I create on our YouTube channel, GrowitBuildit (more than 10 million views!). You can find my channel here: https://youtube.com/@growitbuildit Additionally I am a wood worker / DIY enthusiast. I enjoy designing/building projects (with hand tools when I can!). I hope to give you some tips and useful information!

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