Lanceleaf coreopsis is an evergreen native perennial with bright yellow blooms from March to June. It is a sun loving plant naturally found in open woodlands, roadsides, prairies and pastures. It tolerates many soil types from sandy gravel to clay loam. The plant grows in small clumps with branching stems at the base that allow it to spread and form colonies. The leaves are lance-shaped but some may be deeply lobed. The clumps are 1 to 2 feet tall and the flowers heads are 1 to 1 1/2 inches across. The yellow center (disc flowers) stand out distinctly from the lobed ray flowers (petals) on long stems. The more you deadhead, that is remove spent flowers from the plant, the more flowers you will have and the longer the growing season. But leave the seeds on in the fall for the birds to eat, and to allow the plant to reseed in the spring. Lanceleaf coreopsis is an excellent nectar plant for butterflies and moths while the pollen and nectar attract many native bees. I like to plant behind clumps of Indian pink (Spigelia marylandica). The bright yellow flowers seem to enhance the already vibrant red and yellow colors of the Indian pink.
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