Coreopsis: Mississippi's State Wildflower

Did you know Mississippi has a state wildflower? Coreopsis flowers are a ray of sunshine with their bright yellow color! Also called tickseed, these perennials can be used as a filler in your garden or planted in a container.

They resemble the shape of a daisy, but with more defined, slightly pointed ridged petals and a bright red center.

Coreopsis is great to have in your garden because it attracts a wide range of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and other insects. Pollinators play a vital role for our environment, moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants reproduce.

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant, coreopsis is the perfect choice! It tolerates the Mississippi heat well and can handle drought spells. If you have an area in your yard that you can’t reach with the water hose, consider planting coreopsis. They can handle it!

Another great thing about coreopsis is that in late fall, you can leave the flower stalks so birds can enjoy the seeds during winter months. They really are the native wildflower that keeps on giving!

Coreopsis is very easy to propagate by seed. There are several popular varieties to consider. Here at MSU Extension, we’re particularly fond of the following varieties:

• Grandiflora SunKiss
• Grandiflora Double the Sun
• UpTick Gold and Bronze

Carefree and colorful, coreopsis is a great choice to consider for your landscape. If you’d like more information on what flowers to plant in your garden or want advice on how to create an environment welcoming to pollinators, your local Extension agent can help!