Common Name: Coreopsis

General Information

Coreopsis tinctoria is an annual plant growing around 30cm tall and up to 75cm wide[]..
The plant has been gathered from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of a dye. The species is often cultivated as an ornamental in both temperate and tropical areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central and Eastern N. America - Minnesota to Texas.

Habitat

Moist low ground[]. Roadsides and waste places[]. Moist, sandy or clay soils, sometimes alkaline flats, prairies, ditches, disturbed places at elevations of 20 - 1500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[]. Prefers a fertile well-drained moisture retentive medium soil[, ]. Does well in poor sandy or rocky soils[, ]. Requires a sunny position[, ]. Tolerates light shade[]. Established plants are drought resistant[].
In the wild, this species usually germinates in late summer or early autumn and over-winters as a rosette. The stems begin growing upward and branching in the spring[].
A good bee plant[].

Edible Uses

A beverage is made from the dried plant[, , ]. It was used instead of coffee[].

Medicinal

A tea made from the roots is emetic and is also used in the treatment of diarrhoea[, ].

An infusion of the whole plant without the root has been used by women desiring a female baby[].

Other Uses

A yellow (red with an acid mordant) dye is obtained from the flowers and is used to dye cloth[, , ]. It is not very good when used on plant fibres[]. The flowers can be dried for later use[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer[].
If you have sufficient seed then it can also be sown in situ outdoors.