The 1991 North Carolina Botanical Garden Wildflower of the Year, Coreopsis lanceolata (Zones 4-9), is the quintessential cheerful native. It is a hardy, clump-forming perennial that produces a profusion of bright, daisy-like yellow flowers with fringed petals. It is one of the most reliable ways to bring a sense of "wildflower meadow" to even the smallest residential patch. It acts as a vibrant foreground plant, filling in gaps with its narrow foliage and keeping the color going from late spring into early summer. A Native Nectar Station This plant is a high-traffic hub for our local Sweat Bees, Leafcutter Bees, and Syrphid Flies (the tiny, harmless hoverflies that help control garden pests). Because the flowers are flat and open, the nectar is easy for everyone to reach. It also serves as a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly. Once the flowers fade, the seed heads become a natural bird feeder, specifically attracting American Goldfinches who love to cling to the stems and pluck the seeds. Performance & Site Care This is a tough love plant that thrives on lean conditions. It is a Drought- Resistant plant that actually prefers poor, sandy, or rocky soils over rich, heavily fertilized garden beds. If the soil is too "good," the plant may get a bit floppy or experience Lodging—keeping it hungry keeps it upright and tidy. Full sun is essential for a heavy bloom cycle. In the Southeast, it is an excellent choice for Erosion Control on sunny banks or as a Living Border along driveways and sidewalks where heat radiates. To keep the plant tidy and encourage a second flush of flowers, we recommend a quick de-heading with a hedge trimmer; this extends the bloom time and manages re-seeding in one go.
