Lance-leaved coreopsis | The Morton Arboretum

Lance-leaved coreopsis is a midspring to early summer perennial with showy, yellow, daisy-like flowers that give off an anise fragrance. This fragrance is instrumental in attracting native pollinators. Its attractiveness to pollinators makes lance-leaved coreopsis a great addition to a prairie or home garden. Lance-leaved coreopsis is easy to transplant and grow, and will quickly fill in open areas. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region and current research.

Family (English) Aster
Family (botanic) Asteraceae
Tree or plant type Perennial
Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
Size range Medium plant (12-24 inches)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil preference Dry soil, Sandy soil, well-drained soil
Tolerances Dry sites, Occasional drought
Season of interest mid spring, late spring, early summer
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, Yellow
Shape or form Narrow, Upright
Growth rate Fast
Wildlife Browsers, Butterflies, Game mammals, Insect pollinators

Size and method of spreading:

Lance-leaved coreopsis typically grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to one-and-one-half feet wide. In ideal conditions, lance-leaved coreopsis can spread aggressively through self-seeding. Deadheading can help to promote additional blooms as well as prevent unwanted spreading. Division every two to three years is recommended to reduce sprawling.

Native geographic location and habitat: (include C-value if appropriate)

Native to the majority of the continental United States. C-Value: 8.

Attracts birds or pollinators:

Lance-leaved coreopsis attracts long-tongued and short-tongued bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, beetles, day-flying moths, and skippers. The plant is especially attractive to Melissodes coreopsis, a long-tongued bee that specializes in the pollination of coreopsis species.

Leaf description:

The primary leaves of lance-leaved coreopsis are attached at the base (basal) and are long and narrow with sides that are mostly parallel (lance linear or linear), hairless (glabrous) or irregularly hairy, 2 to 6 inches in length with petioles, and mostly smooth along the edges (entire). Some leaves occur on the stems and may be divided with deep cuts in the leaves that resemble feathers (pinnately lobed). These leaves will be attached directly to the stem (sessile), narrow, and will develop in groups of two (opposite arrangement).

Flower description:

The daisylike flowers of lance-leaved coreopsis include disk and ray flowers. Disk flowers are flat, five-lobed, one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch long, with yellow tips. Six to ten, typically eight, ray flowers are yellow and approximately one-half to one inch long and are often four-lobed with toothed tips.

Fruit description:

The fruit of lance-leaved coreopsis (orbicular achenes) are dry, winged, circular, and approximately one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch long, often resembling a bug or tick.