Florida’s state wildflower Viva La Florida! Florida’s state wildflower is Coreopsis, commonly called In March 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in the land Tickseed. Most of the 17 species that occur here are native to he would name La Florida, “land of flowers,” in honor of Florida. All 17 occur in North Florida. The number of Tickseed Spain’s Easter season, Pascua Florida. The abundant spring species is limited in South Florida, with Leavenworth’s Tickseed wildflowers he would have seen could have influenced the Coreopsis (Coreopsis leavenworthii) being most common. name choice. FLORIDA’S STATE WILDFLOWER Tickseeds commonly seen on roadsides are Leavenworth’s, Florida has the nation’s third-largest diversity of Swamp (C. nudata), Florida (C. floridana) and Coastalplain wildflowers, from the state wildflower, Coreopsis, to (C. gladiata), all of which occur in moist areas. Also common beauties that include Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella), are Lanceleaf Tickseed (C. lanceolata) and Goldenmane Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis), Standing Cypress Tickseed (C. basalis), which occur in drier sites. (Ipomopsis rubra) and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Many can be seen along roadsides that are managed for Peak flowering time varies from spring to fall, depending on wildflowers or infrequently mowed. the species. However, Tickseeds that occur widely, such as Leavenworth’s, tend to flower earlier in the south. Roadside Learn more about the state’s roadside wildflower program at conditions and vegetation management practices may cause www.fdot.gov/designsupport/wildflowers/default.shtm. Tickseed appearance to vary considerably and can reduce or extend flowering seasons. Why wildflowers? Florida’s native wildflowers nourish pollinators that put All Tickseeds in Florida have daisy-like flowers with yellow food on our tables. They also conserve water in landscapes, petals, except Swamp Tickseed, which has pinkish purple protect water and air quality, supply wildlife habitat, beautify petals. Petals, which actually are individual ray flowers, communities, and help maintain a healthy environment for all. surround seed-producing disk flowers in the center. Each small, ovalish seed has two short spines at one end, which give Pick a State Wildflower! the seed a tick-like appearance. The State Wildflower license plate is Florida’s only dedicated funding source for native wildflower planting, education and research projects. Get your plate today at your county tag office. Plant and seed sources www.PlantRealFlorida.org Get involved www.FloridaWildflowers.com For more information on Florida’s native wildflowers and the work of the Florida Wildflower Foundation, visit www.FlaWildflowers.org. You can support Florida’s wildflowers by becoming a Florida Wildflower Foundation member. Visit www.FlaWildflowers.org/support. Florida Wildflower Foundation 225 S. Swoope Ave., Suite 110, Maitland, FL 32751 [email protected] 407-622-1606 Photos: Jeff Norcini Coreopsis auriculata Coreopsis grandiflora Coreopsis linifolia Coreopsis pubescens Lobed Tickseed Largeflower Tickseed Texas Tickseed Star Tickseed Flowering: Spring Flowering: Spring, summer Flowering: Fall Flowering: Summer Height: ½ to 1 ft Height: 1 to 2 ft Height: 2 to 4 ft Height: 1 to 4 ft Habitat: Woodland edges; sandy, Habitat: Disturbed sites Habitat: Moist areas – ditches, pine Habitat: Moist sites – pine flatwoods dry, pine forests Roadside frequency: Rare flatwoods, prairies, edges of Roadside frequency: Rare Roadside frequency: Rare; Note: Many popular garden cypress swamps Note: Named ‘pubescens’ Escambia County only plants are derived from this Roadside frequency: Occasional because the leaves and stems Photo/Arleigh Birchler Photo/Edith Bettinger, Lady Photo/Jeff Norcini Photo/Jeff McMillian, Notes: Only recently observed species. Bird Johnson Wildflower Notes: Resembles are downy; the common USDA-NRCS in Florida. Native to the U.S. but may Center C. leavenworthii but peak name refers to the star-like PLANTS Database not be native to Florida. flowering ofC. linifolia is arrangement of the green Coreopsis integrifolia much later in the season. Tiny black dots can be seen on leaves bracts underneath the petals. when leaves are backlit and viewed close up. Thought to be one of Coreopsis basalis Goldenmane Tickseed Fringeleaf or Chipola the parent plants of C. floridana. Flowering: Spring Tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria Height: 1 to 1 ½ ft Flowering: Fall Golden Tickseed Coreopsis major Habitat: Disturbed sites with dry to Height: 1 to 2 ft Flowering: Summer slightly dry, sandy soil Habitat: Moist areas – Greater Tickseed Height: 1 to 4 ft Roadside frequency: Occasional; floodplains, river and stream Flowering: Summer Habitat: Moist sites – ditches and locally abundant in Big Bend Height: 2 to 3 ft banks Photo/Bill Boothe disturbed sites region Roadside frequency: Rare Habitat: Sandy dry sites Roadside frequency: Rare, Notes: Could be named Roadside frequency: Rare except locally abundant Note: Endangered in Florida. Photo/Bill Boothe Florida’s Mother’s Day Photo/Jeff Norcini Note: Flower resembles C. where planted wildflower for the time of tripteris, but the C. major disk Photo © 2003 Steven Notes: Native to the U.S. but year it reliably puts on a Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf Tickseed flowers tend to be more greenish. J. Baskauf; used with probably not native to permission spectacular show in the Big Flowering: Spring modern-day Florida. Will probably hybridize with Bend region. Multi-acre meadows and stands stretch for miles along Height: 10 to 15 inches C. leavenworthii when both species are in close proximity; hybrid will roads. While C. basalis is native to the U.S., its nativity to Florida Habitat: Disturbed sites, often sandy; have small dark-red spot at base of petal. continues to be debated. infrequently occurs in glades in the Coreopsis nudata Panhandle Swamp Tickseed Flowering: Spring Coreopsis tripteris Coreopsis floridana Florida Tickseed Roadside frequency: Occasional to Height: 2 to 5 ft Tall Tickseed Flowering: Very late summer to very locally abundant Habitat: Moist areas – ditches, pine Flowering: Summer late fall Notes: A less common hairy flatwoods, prairies, marshes Height: 2 to 4 ft Height: 2 to 3 ft form occurs in dry, sandy Photo/Jeff Norcini and swamps Habitat: Moist – hardwood or Habitat: Moist areas – ditches, pine sites and tends to flower a bit later Roadside frequency: Occasional; hardwood/pine forests flatwoods, prairies, edges of than the common nonhairy form. Photo/Jeff Norcini locally abundant Roadside frequency: Rare cypress swamps Outside of North Florida, the nonhairy Note: Of the 16 Coreopsis species Note: Only Coreopsis species Roadside frequency: form is usually the firstCoreopsis to flower in Photo/Bill Boothe in Florida, usually the first in Florida with compound leaves Occasional; more the spring. The hairy form is known as “Hairy Lance.” The naturally one to flower in the spring. composed of 3 lance-shaped leaflets, common in Central and South occurring C. lanceolata is much smaller than the common garden Photo/Jeff Norcini with these leaves most often occurring Florida than in North Florida variety, which is sometimes planted on roadsides. The garden in the middle part of the plant. Notes: Only occurs in Florida and variety is much larger overall and can be 2 feet tall. Coreopsis nuecensis is nearly identical to Coreopsis Crown Tickseed gladiata. May be a hybrid of C. gladiata and C. linifolia. Flowering: Spring Coreopsis palustris Coreopsis leavenworthii Leavenworth’s Height: 1 to 3 ft Helianthus-Leaf Tickseed Habitat: Disturbed sandy sites Swamp Tickseed Coreopsis gladiata – Coastalplain Tickseed Flowering: Spring, summer Roadside frequency: Rare; only Found only in Duval County. Last Flowering: Late summer, fall Height: 1 to 2 ft observed in St. Johns County observed in 1898. Height: 2 to 3 ft Habitat: Moist areas – ditches, pine Note: Not native to Florida; may Photo/Bill Boothe Habitat: Moist areas – ditches, pine flatwoods be a garden escapee. flatwoods, prairies, edges of Roadside frequency: Common; locally Coreopsis bakeri cypress swamps abundant Baker’s tickseed Roadside frequency: Occasional; Notes: In southernmost Florida, Discovered in 2015. To learn more, visit locally abundant in North some plants may flower at Photo/Roger Hammer FlaWildflowers.org/welcome-bakers-tickseed. Florida; more common in any time of year. Flower size in South

North than in Central Florida Photo/Jeff Norcini Florida tends to be smaller than in Notes: Nearly identical to Coreopsis North Florida. floridana. A reddish blotch at the base of the petals occurs on some plants. 225 S. Swoope Ave., Suite 110 • Maitland, FL 32751 Thought to be one of the parent plants of C. floridana. 407-622-1606 • www.FlaWildflowers.org www.fdot.gov/designsupport/wildflowers/default.shtm