# Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/coreopsis · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/coreopsis)

Coreopsis · بقية  
flower · exotic · family Asteraceae · grows 0.3–0.9 m tall, 0.3–0.6 m wide · fast growth  
full sun · low water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 3 · salt 2 · drought 4 · shade 2 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Oct–Jan  
Uses: bedding, container  
Garden styles: desert-modern, manicured

## Also known as

- **English:** Tickseed, Lanceleaf coreopsis, Lance-leaved coreopsis, Lanceleaf tickseed, Sand coreopsis
- **Arabic (العربية):** بقية, بقية سنانية (Baqiyya sinaniyya)
- **Persian (فارسی):** اشرفی (Ashrafi)

Sunny yellow daisies on slim stems, from sandy ground in the United States: sources call it drought- and heat-resistant and a good fit for sand, sown in Dubai from October.

## About

Meet coreopsis, the flower with the simplest good manners in the garden. A slim stem rises from a tuft of narrow leaves and carries a single golden daisy with notched petals, and a clump of them in a spring breeze looks like a flock of small yellow butterflies. It asks for sun, drainage and not much else.

Its native ground explains why. Wikipedia describes lanceleaf coreopsis as native to the eastern and central United States, preferring sandy, well-drained soil in full sun and adapted to extremes of wet and dry. NC State says it tolerates sandy and rocky soils and is resistant to deer, drought, heat and humidity. That list reads like a brief for a Dubai bed, though none of the sources tested it in the UAE.

The mood is meadow rather than formal: a loose drift along a gravel path, a patch at the edge of a lawn, a row of pots by the gate. The common name, tickseed, comes from the small seeds, which resemble ticks.

Coreopsis lanceolata, the lanceleaf coreopsis or lanceleaf tickseed, is a herbaceous perennial in the daisy family, Asteraceae. NC State gives a height of 30 to 90 cm and a spread of 30 to 60 cm, with yellow to orange flowers, and notes that it prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade of 2 to 6 hours, and that it sprawls if grown in soil that is too fertile. Wikipedia adds that it spreads to form colonies. The ASPCA lists the genus, Coreopsis spp., as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

The sources agree on three things that matter in Dubai. NC State says it tolerates sandy and rocky soils and is resistant to drought, heat and humidity. Wikipedia says it prefers sandy, well-drained soil, copes with extremes of moisture and must not be overwatered, or it will flop; heavy clay that holds winter moisture can kill it. UF/IFAS says that once established it is drought-tolerant, and tells Florida gardeners to sow seed anytime from October through January, in a sunny spot, no more than an eighth of an inch deep. That is close to Dubai's cool season.

We found no Dubai Municipality or UAE source on planting dates or on how it performs through a Dubai summer, and no UAE nursery listing for the plant; the only UAE listing we found is lanceleaf coreopsis seed on Noon. The windows below are therefore our reading of the cool season, from the UF/IFAS advice and Dubai's climate. NC State also warns that it can become weedy and self-seed aggressively, so in a small bed deadhead before it sets seed.

## Through the year

Coreopsis's Dubai year, as we read the sources, starts with seed. Sow from October to December, when the soil is cooling (the October mean high is 35.9 °C, so keep the seed bed moist), and plants grow through the mild months. Flowers open from about February and carry on into May, when NC State's resistance to heat and drought is tested: Dubai's mean high is 38.2 °C in May. Deadhead through spring. Through summer's 40 to 42 °C, we found no UAE report, so plan on replanting or letting self-sown seedlings come up in the cool season.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Dec | Sow: Sow seed in the cool season | UF/IFAS tells Florida gardeners to sow anytime from October to January, in a sunny spot, 1/8 inch deep. No Dubai source gives dates for coreopsis. |
| Oct–Jan | Plant: Plant nursery plants if you find them | We found no UAE nursery listing; plant in the evening and shade for the first week. |
| Feb–May | Flowers: Yellow daisies from late winter | NC State and Wikipedia give April to June in the US; Dubai's cool season brings it earlier. Deadhead to keep flowers coming. |
| Jun–Sep | Heat stress: Summer is untested in Dubai | NC State calls it resistant to drought, heat and humidity, but we found no UAE report; Dubai's mean highs are 40 to 42 °C. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not tested in Dubai; if you keep plants, water deeply but rarely at the base.
- **Watering in winter:** Once established, water once a week or less by drip; NC State and UF/IFAS describe it as drought-tolerant, and overwatering makes it flop.
- **While establishing:** Keep the seed bed or new plants evenly moist for the first two to three weeks, then taper.
- **Soil:** Free-draining sandy or lean soil, in full sun. Avoid heavy clay and rich, over-watered ground.
- **Feeding:** Very little: a light feed at planting is enough, since rich soil makes it sprawl.
- **Pruning:** Deadhead spent flowers to keep new ones coming and to stop self-seeding; cut back after the main flush.
- **Planting:** Sow seed 3 mm deep (UF/IFAS gives 1/8 inch) from October, or plant nursery plants 30 to 40 cm apart, in full sun.
- **Pests and problems:** Crown rot in moist, poorly drained soil; Occasional aphids
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp., also called tickseed) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses; NC State's Plant Toolbox tags lanceleaf coreopsis the same way. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- NC State calls it resistant to drought, heat and humidity
- Tolerates sandy and rocky soil, which suits Dubai's ground
- Easy from seed, sown from October as in UF/IFAS's advice for Florida
- Bright yellow flowers for cutting and borders
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

**Cons**
- Needs well-drained soil: crown rot occurs in moist, poorly drained ground
- Sprawls in rich or over-watered soil
- Self-seeds and spreads, and NC State says it can become weedy
- No UAE nursery or Dubai performance data found; seed is the usual route

## Common mistakes

- Burying the seed. UF/IFAS says to plant seed no more than an eighth of an inch deep.
- Planting it on the lawn's irrigation line. NC State notes crown rot in moist, poorly drained soil, and Wikipedia says heavy, wet ground can kill it.
- Feeding and watering it generously. NC State says it sprawls in soil that is too fertile, and Wikipedia says overwatered plants flop.
- Letting it seed everywhere. NC State warns it can become weedy and self-seed aggressively; deadhead before the seed ripens.
- Expecting a long-lived plant. We found no UAE source on perennial survival, so plan to resow in autumn.

## Good to know

- Wikipedia says both the genus name and the common name tickseed come from the small seeds, which resemble ticks.
- UF/IFAS describes coreopsis as Florida's state wildflower, a native perennial that often reseeds itself.
- Other species, such as Coreopsis grandiflora and plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), are also sold as coreopsis; their needs are similar, but this page covers lanceleaf coreopsis.
- The ASPCA lists Coreopsis spp. (tickseed) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Drought-tolerant border, Gravel-garden drift, Cut flowers, Meadow-style planting

Give coreopsis the sunniest, best-drained spot you have, such as a gravel border, a raised bed or the edge of a path. Plant it in drifts of five or more plants 30 to 40 cm apart so the yellow reads as a single block, and keep it off the lawn's sprinkler zone. Keep the soil lean: NC State says it sprawls in rich soil. Deadhead before it sets seed if you do not want it to spread.

- [Gaillardia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/gaillardia.md): Gaillardia is another sun-loving, drought-tolerant daisy from sandy ground, with red-and-gold flowers beside coreopsis's yellow.
- [Gazania](https://plantguide.ae/plants/gazania.md): Gazania is a low, sun-opening daisy that fills the front of a coreopsis border.
- [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md): Marigold's orange and gold echo coreopsis and take the same October planting.
- [Agave](https://plantguide.ae/plants/agave.md): Agave's blue-grey rosettes give a cool contrast to the yellow daisies, and both want sharp drainage.

## FAQ

**When should I sow coreopsis in Dubai?**  
Our reading of the sources is October to December. UF/IFAS tells Florida gardeners to sow seed anytime from October through January, in a sunny spot, no more than an eighth of an inch deep. No Dubai source gives dates.

**Does coreopsis suit Dubai's sandy soil?**  
Probably. NC State says lanceleaf coreopsis tolerates sandy and rocky soils, and Wikipedia says it prefers sandy, well-drained soil. The caution is drainage: wet or clay soil rots it.

**Will coreopsis survive a Dubai summer?**  
We found no UAE source. NC State rates it resistant to drought, heat and humidity, but Dubai's June to August mean highs are 40 to 42 °C, so treat it as a cool-season plant and resow in autumn.

**What is the difference between coreopsis and tickseed?**  
They are the same plant. Tickseed is the common name of the genus Coreopsis, and Wikipedia says the name comes from the small seeds that resemble ticks.

**Is coreopsis safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists Coreopsis spp. as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Related plants

[Gaillardia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/gaillardia.md) · [Gazania](https://plantguide.ae/plants/gazania.md) · [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md) · [Cosmos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cosmos.md) · [Sunflower](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sunflower.md)

## Photos

![Clump of lanceleaf coreopsis covered in yellow flowers beside a wooden wall in Oita, Japan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Coreopsis_lanceolata%2C_Yufu-shi%2C_Oita_Prefecture%2C_Japan.jpg)  
Photo: OKJaguar / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coreopsis_lanceolata,_Yufu-shi,_Oita_Prefecture,_Japan.jpg))

![Lanceleaf coreopsis plants with yellow flowers among green foliage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Coreopsis_lanceolata_03.jpg)  
Photo: Shijan Kaakkara / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coreopsis_lanceolata_03.jpg))

![Two golden lanceleaf coreopsis flowers](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Coreopsis_lanceolata_1DS-II_2-5177.jpg)  
Photo: SAplants / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coreopsis_lanceolata_1DS-II_2-5177.jpg))

![Single yellow lanceleaf coreopsis flower with notched petals](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Coreopsis_lanceolata_UMFS_1.jpg)  
Photo: Fredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coreopsis_lanceolata_UMFS_1.jpg))

## Sources

- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Coreopsis lanceolata](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coreopsis-lanceolata/)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Coreopsis](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/coreopsis/)
- [Wikipedia: Coreopsis lanceolata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coreopsis_lanceolata)
- [ASPCA: Coreopsis (tickseed)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/coreopsis)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Coreopsis lanceolata](https://www.gbif.org/species/206647545)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: بقية (the genus Coreopsis)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: بقية سنانية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9)
- [Persian Wikipedia: اشرفی (سرده)](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C_(%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87))
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (WMO 1991-2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Noon UAE: Lanceleaf Coreopsis (500 Seeds) Perennial Flower Seeds (listing title, checked 2026-10-29)](https://www.noon.com/uae-en/lanceleaf-coreopsis-500-seeds-perennial-flower-seeds-attracts-beneficials-non-gmo-open-pollinated-heirloom-canada-flower-seeds-three-mo-garden/ZF01B73B45632BBDC0098Z/p/)