Chipola River Coreopsis

Description

Botanical Name:    Coreopsis integrifolia

Common Name:     Chipola River Coreopsis, Fringeleaf Tickseed, Dye-Flower, Ciliate-Leaf Tickseed

Description:   There are 12 species of Coreopsis native to Florida. Ten out of those 12 are found only in North Florida and the Panhandle. Chipola River Coreopsis is one of those 10, with its primary native area along the Chipola River in Calhoun, Washington, and Jackson counties. It is listed as an endangered species by the State of Florida.

Chipola River Coreopsis is a somewhat slow growing, yellow-flowered herbaceous perennial that can grow from 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall and spreads in clumps 1 – 2 feet wide. The flowers are yellow with a dark center. It thrives in moist to wet soils in part sun to part shade. It especially likes protection from our hot afternoon summer sun. Is not drought tolerant. Would grow great in your rain garden. Its natural habitat is in low woodlands, floodplain wetlands, and along blackwater streams, where it receives dappled shade and plenty of moisture. Likes sandy soil. Can form stunning masses of fall color.

Its single flowers are about 2 inches across and bloom from late summer into fall on upright stems. The stems have waxy, unlobed, opposite, elliptic to lanceolate, deep green leaves about 2 inches long. Each flower typically features eight deep yellow rays surrounding a dark purplish-black center disk with two sets of bracts underneath.

Attracts butterflies and pollinators to its nectar filled flowers. Is deer resistant. Birds love to eat the seeds.

Would be beautiful planted with the purple flowering Georgia Aster.

This plant in 1-gallon containers is 8 – 15 inches tall.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Not tolerant of salty wind or salt spray.

Plant Lore: A common name for all 12 species is tickseed. The genus name comes from the Greek words koris meaning “bug” and opsis meaning “like” in reference to the shape of the seed which resembles a bug or tick. Specific epithet comes from the Latin words integer meaning entire and folium meaning leaf in reference to the undivided plant leaves.

Florida Hardiness Zones 8 – 9