What Do Coreopsis Seeds Look Like? A Close Look at This Garden Favorite

With their bright, cheery blooms, coreopsis are a beloved flower for gardens across North America. But while their daisy-like flowers may be familiar to most gardeners, their seeds are more mysterious. In this article, we’ll take a close look at coreopsis seeds – their size, shape, texture, and more. Read on to get better acquainted with this key part of the coreopsis life cycle.

An Overview of Coreopsis Seeds

Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, produce small seeds within seed heads at the center of the spent flowers. The seeds are ready for harvest once the flower petals drop and the seed head turns brown and dry.

Coreopsis seeds are usually round or oval in shape and quite tiny, around 1/8 inch wide. Their color ranges from light tan to dark brown or even black, sometimes with a reddish tint or dark mottling. The seeds have a hard outer coat and a somewhat bumpy, textured surface.

When numerous coreopsis seeds are together inside a dried seed head, they resemble common tick insects, which accounts for the “tickseed” nickname. Let’s take a more detailed look at the size, shape, texture, and appearance of these seeds.

Coreopsis Seed Size and Dimensions

Coreopsis seeds are very small, with a diameter typically spanning 1-2 millimeters or approximately 1/16 to 1/8 inch wide. Some specific varieties, like the Lemon Drop coreopsis, have slightly larger seeds reaching 1.5 millimeters wide. Moonbeam coreopsis produces particularly tiny seeds usually less than 1 millimeter across.

The minute size of coreopsis seeds can make them tricky to handle when planting. Gardeners often sprinkle the tiny seeds over the soil surface rather than individually planting them. The seeds’ oval to round shape allows them to nestle nicely into the soil when watered in. Their hard outer coat also protects the inner embryo.

What Color Are Coreopsis Seeds?

While coreopsis flowers display vibrant yellow, red, pink, white and bicolor blooms, their seeds are more subdued in color. The seeds are most commonly tan, brown or black. Sometimes a hint of maroon, burgundy or reddish-brown comes through. Variegated types like Strawberry Swirl coreopsis produce seeds flecked with dark reds or browns.

Seed color can indicate when seeds are ripe and ready for harvest. Light green seeds are immature, while dark brown to black shows full maturity. When saving your own coreopsis seeds, look for those rich, dark mature colors.

The Texture and Surface of Coreopsis Seeds

Under a magnifying glass, coreopsis seeds reveal a bumpy, irregular surface texture. They are not perfectly smooth like beads. The seed coat exhibits a matte finish rather than a shiny glossiness.

When rubbed between your fingers, coreopsis seeds feel hard and firm. Their outer coating is quite dense and resilient to withstand soil conditions and temperature fluctuations while dormant. Yet, when the right germination conditions arise, the seed coat splits open to allow the inner embryo to emerge.

The Shape of Coreopsis Seeds

While shapes can vary subtly between different coreopsis species and cultivars, the seeds tend to be oval, elliptical, or round. Some may lean toward more oblong or elongated shapes. Their overall form is chubby and plump rather than flattened or disc-like.

The oval shape exhibits a slight taper at either end, with the embryo nestled in the center. Remember that while coreopsis flowers display extravagant daisy forms, their seeds are very small and understated in comparison.

Storing Coreopsis Seeds From Your Garden

Once you’ve harvested dry, mature coreopsis seeds directly from your own plants, proper storage is important for preserving viability. Place seeds in envelopes or glass jars labeled with the variety name and year.

Store containers in a cool, dry location away from direct sun. The refrigerator is ideal, as coreopsis seeds can remain viable for up to 5 years when refrigerated. For best results, use harvested seeds within 1-3 years before germination rates decline.

With their petite size, dark colors, hard outer coat, and oval shape, coreopsis seeds may seem insignificant compared to the plant’s bright floral display. But these seeds hold the future of coreopsis in your garden, so becoming familiar with their anatomy is key for successful germination and preservation.