Coreopsis, commonly known as tickseed, is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Many cultivated varieties are recognised by their cheerful yellow, daisy-like flower heads, although flower colour and appearance vary between species and cultivars.
Coreopsis can be a useful ornamental plant in gardens where its growing requirements are suitable. Its open flower heads attract bees, butterflies and other flower-visiting insects, while many varieties produce blooms over an extended period. Some types are drought-tolerant once established, although their water needs and growth habits depend on the species and local conditions.
My interest in Coreopsis began with a flower growing outside a friend's gate in Soshanguve. I did not know its name at the time. That small encounter led me to research the plant and eventually inspired an idea for helping other gardeners identify unfamiliar plants.
Written by Kutlwano Mokoena
Founder of Evergreen Hideout Agricultural Services (NPO: 2024 / 380375 / 07). Specialist in ornamental plant identification and ecological gardening.
Quick Plant Summary
The bright flower heads add colour to garden beds and can provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects.
Coreopsis includes annual and perennial plants. Sunlight, soil drainage and watering needs vary between species and cultivars.
🌻 First Encounter: A Flower That Caught My Eye
I first noticed this flower in 2025, at the home of my friend and former colleague, Emnes Baloyi. Emnes and I had worked together at Alkemetic Vegetation Farm from 2021 to 2025, and I often visited him at his home in Soshanguve.
The plant was growing just outside his yard, next to the gate. It immediately caught my attention. A cluster of bright yellow flowers stood out against the green foliage, with each bloom resembling a small sun. I stopped to look more closely because I had not knowingly encountered this particular flower in our area before.
What I observed: The flowers had a daisy-like appearance, with bright yellow petals surrounding a dark central disk. The plant formed a compact-looking clump, with upright stems and green foliage. It appeared to be growing well. I asked Emnes what the flower was called, but he did not know either. He had planted it because he liked its appearance, and it had grown successfully in that spot.
🌻 Personal Connection: I had seen many flowers before, but this one made me curious. I liked the way the sunlight caught the yellow petals and how the flowers stood out against the foliage. I did not know its name, but I wanted to find out.
That moment outside Emnes's gate stayed with me. It made me think about how often we plant flowers and vegetables without knowing their names or understanding much about them. The experience helped inspire the idea for a Plant Identifier App on the Evergreen Hideout website.
The encounter stayed with me for three reasons:
- A new plant to investigate: I had not knowingly encountered Coreopsis before. Its bright flowers prompted me to find out more about its identity, growing requirements and place in the garden.
- Inspiration for a project: Not knowing the flower's name made me think about how useful a simple plant-identification tool could be. I wanted to help other people identify unfamiliar plants and learn more about the greenery around them.
- The value of observation: Taking time to look closely, photograph a plant and investigate its features can turn an ordinary garden visit into an opportunity to learn.
📍 Location: Emnes Baloyi's home, Soshanguve, Pretoria — outside the gate
📅 Date: 2025
🌤️ Conditions: Afternoon sunlight, yellow flowers standing out against green foliage
🌱 Encounter context: Visiting a friend's home and noticing an unfamiliar ornamental flower
Identifying the Flower: From Curiosity to Knowledge
After seeing the flower at Emnes's home, I wanted to identify it. I took photographs with my phone and later searched through plant-identification tools and botanical information. The closest match I found was Coreopsis, also known as tickseed.
Coreopsis belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same large plant family that includes daisies, sunflowers and many other familiar flowering plants. The genus contains numerous species, with natural distributions across parts of the Americas and Africa. Many species are grown as ornamentals because of their attractive flower heads.
The name "tickseed" refers to the small, seed-like fruits produced by these plants, which can resemble ticks in shape. However, seed appearance varies between species, so the common name alone is not enough to identify a particular plant.
The yellow petals and dark central disk I observed were consistent with some Coreopsis varieties. However, identifying the exact species would require additional details, such as close-up photographs of the leaves, stems, flower heads and mature seeds. For that reason, I refer to the plant as Coreopsis rather than assigning it a definite species name.
🌱 Plant identification tip: A flower photograph is a useful starting point, but reliable identification often requires photographs of the whole plant, leaves, stems and seed heads as well. Similar-looking plants can belong to different species or even different genera.
This experience helped inspire the Plant Identifier App on the Evergreen Hideout website. I realised that other gardeners might have the same experience: they see an interesting plant but do not know what it is. The app is intended to make it easier for people to begin identifying plants from photographs and learning about their characteristics.
You can try the Evergreen Hideout Plant Identifier App by uploading a photograph of a plant you would like to investigate. Treat the result as an identification starting point, especially when the plant may be invasive or difficult to distinguish from similar species.
Coreopsis and Pollinators
Many Coreopsis varieties are attractive to flower-visiting insects. Their flower heads have the familiar daisy-like structure found in the Asteraceae family. What appears to be one large flower is actually a cluster of many smaller flowers, called florets, grouped together on a central receptacle.
The outer ray florets create the visible petal-like ring, while the smaller disk florets occupy the centre. Depending on the species and cultivar, these florets can provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects. Bees and butterflies may visit the blooms, along with other insects that feed on floral resources.
Including flowering plants such as Coreopsis in a garden can help increase the variety of flowers available to pollinators. For a stronger pollinator garden, avoid relying on one plant alone. Combine several suitable flowering species that bloom at different times so that insects have access to food across more of the year.
Flowering duration varies by species, cultivar, climate and maintenance. Some Coreopsis varieties flower for an extended period when conditions are favourable, while others have a more seasonal flowering cycle. Removing spent flowers can encourage further blooms in some types, although it is not necessary if you want the plant to produce seeds for wildlife or future propagation.
Coreopsis can be useful in ornamental borders, mixed flower beds and pollinator-focused gardens. Before planting it in a natural area, however, check whether the particular species is suitable for your region. A plant that performs well in a managed garden is not automatically appropriate for unrestricted planting in natural vegetation.
Growing Coreopsis in the Garden
Coreopsis species and cultivars do not all have identical growing requirements. Many commonly cultivated types prefer a sunny position and soil that drains well. Some tolerate dry conditions once established, but newly planted specimens still need regular watering while their roots develop.
Sunlight
Most garden Coreopsis varieties flower best in a sunny position. Adequate light encourages flowering and helps maintain compact, healthy growth. Check the requirements of the particular variety, especially if you are growing it in a very hot location.
Soil and Drainage
Good drainage is important. Many Coreopsis varieties cope with average garden soil and do not need heavily enriched beds. Soil that remains waterlogged can damage roots, so improve drainage where necessary before planting.
Watering
Water newly planted Coreopsis while it establishes. Once established, some varieties tolerate short dry periods, but drought tolerance should not be confused with a need to leave the plant without water. During prolonged hot, dry weather, check the soil and water when necessary.
Pruning and Deadheading
Remove faded flowers if you want to keep the plant looking tidy and encourage further flowering in varieties that respond to deadheading. If you want the plant to produce seeds, leave some flower heads in place until they mature. The best pruning approach depends on the species and whether it is an annual or perennial type.
Growth Habit and Propagation
Some Coreopsis species form clumps, while others spread more readily by seed. Perennial varieties may sometimes be divided to rejuvenate older clumps, but not every species spreads through underground rhizomes. Check the growth habit of your particular variety before deciding how to manage or propagate it.
A Note on Pompom Weed in South Africa
When identifying flowering plants in South Africa, it is important to distinguish ornamental species from listed invasive plants. One species that gardeners and land managers should recognise is pompom weed (Campuloclinium macrocephalum).
Pompom weed belongs to the same broad daisy family as Coreopsis, but it does not look like the yellow flower shown in this article. It is a tall, upright perennial herb with distinctive fluffy pink to purple flower heads arranged in clusters at the ends of its stems. Its stems and leaves are rough and bristly, and its seeds can spread by wind.
Pompom weed is a serious invasive plant in South Africa and is listed as a Category 1b invasive species under the applicable national regulations. Category 1b species must be controlled in accordance with the relevant legal requirements. Do not plant, propagate, trade or deliberately spread it. If you suspect that it is growing on your property, seek reliable identification and follow the appropriate control guidance.
There is another important point: not every plant in the Coreopsis genus should automatically be treated as harmless in South Africa. Coreopsis lanceolata, for example, has been recorded as a garden escape in parts of the country. Before planting or allowing an ornamental plant to spread beyond a managed garden, check its local status and suitability.
Correct identification matters. The yellow, daisy-like flower in this article should not be confused with the pink, fluffy flower heads of pompom weed, but a photograph alone may not be enough to confirm the exact Coreopsis species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Coreopsis?
A: Coreopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. Many species are grown as ornamentals and are recognised by their daisy-like flower heads. Tickseed is their common name.
Q: How can I identify Coreopsis?
A: Many varieties have daisy-like flower heads with yellow or differently coloured ray florets surrounding a central disk. Leaf shape, stem structure and seed characteristics vary between species. For a more reliable identification, photograph the whole plant as well as its leaves, flowers and mature seed heads.
Q: Does Coreopsis attract bees and butterflies?
A: Many Coreopsis varieties attract flower-visiting insects, including bees and butterflies. Their flower heads can provide pollen and nectar. The number and variety of visitors depend on the plant, local insect populations and the surrounding garden.
Q: Is Coreopsis drought-tolerant?
A: Some commonly grown varieties tolerate dry conditions once established, but drought tolerance varies. Newly planted plants need water while their roots develop, and established plants may still need watering during extended hot, dry periods.
Q: Can Coreopsis be grown in South Africa?
A: Some Coreopsis varieties are cultivated in South African gardens. However, check the identity and local status of the particular species before planting it, as some ornamental plants can escape cultivation. Coreopsis lanceolata has been recorded as a garden escape in parts of the country.
Q: Is Coreopsis the same as pompom weed?
A: No. They are different plants, although both belong to the Asteraceae family. Many Coreopsis varieties have daisy-like flower heads, while pompom weed has distinctive fluffy pink to purple flower clusters. Pompom weed is a listed invasive species in South Africa and must be controlled in accordance with applicable regulations.
Q: Should I deadhead Coreopsis?
A: Removing faded flowers can keep some varieties tidy and encourage further flowering. If you want the plant to produce seeds, leave some flower heads to mature. The best approach depends on the variety and your gardening goals.
Conclusion: The Flower That Inspired a Project
Coreopsis is a reminder that an ordinary garden visit can lead to an unexpected discovery. The bright yellow flowers outside Emnes Baloyi's gate caught my attention because I did not know what they were. That curiosity encouraged me to investigate the plant, learn about its characteristics and think about how other people could identify unfamiliar plants more easily.
The experience also reminded me that appreciating a plant involves more than recognising its flowers. Understanding its growth habits, ecological value and suitability for a particular environment helps us make better gardening decisions.
My encounter with Coreopsis helped inspire the Evergreen Hideout Plant Identifier App. It began with one unfamiliar flower beside a gate, but the idea behind it is much broader: helping people become more curious, observant and knowledgeable about the plants growing around them.