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

Coreopsis is one of the easiest flowers to save the seeds from. Getting the seed heads before the birds eat them is all that’s needed to save Coreopsis seeds. I’ll show you how to do it with pictures below. Most Coreopsis plants can grow seeds on their own, but saving Coreopsis seeds is one of the smartest things you can do. The only way to get more plants for free that doesn’t involve moving young seedlings to different spots.

For my guide I’m showing you Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) and Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis Tinctoria). Just about all Coreopsis flowers make a capsule / packet type seed head.

Native to North America, Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a short-lived perennial flower that blooms in early spring and will keep blooming all summer if you remove the spent flowers. When it comes to size, the Lanceleaf Coreopsis flower is about 15 cm to 30 cm tall and 6 inches to 1 foot wide. It can flop over if not supported through staking.

Large Flowered Tickseed is another Coreopsis species that this method will work on. They look similar to Lanceleaf Coreopsis but bloom a bit later. These are commonly sold in nurseries.

Plains Coreopsis is an annual flower native to North America. It grows 1. 5-3 feet tall and can be spaced as little as 6″ apart. It really looks great in a mass planting, but may flop over without some nearby support. It’s typical home is on the prairie, which makes sense given its shape and structure.

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.

Guide to saving Coreposis Seeds (with pictures)

what do coreopsis seeds look like

what do coreopsis seeds look like

Ideally you will have identified these when they were blooming, and know where to find them. Maybe a friend or neighbor has some plants you can use. You can ask for seeds or offer to remove the dead flowers.

2 – Find some ‘spent’ blooms, or seed heads that have formed.

what do coreopsis seeds look like

what do coreopsis seeds look like

Seed heads will form right where the flower was. Wait until the seed head has dried out before harvesting. Or, if they have not fully dried you can clip the stem several inches below the seed head. Then just hang the stalk upside down in a cool dry place until dry. This will allow the seeds to fully form.

Staring Coreopsis From Seed, Part 1

FAQ

Is coreopsis hard to grow from seed?

Coreopsis seeds germinate readily. This means they can be sown directly into prepared garden beds. For frost-tolerant varieties, this can be done in fall or very early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Gardeners can also successfully start their seeds indoors in trays.

Does coreopsis spread by seed?

Likes moist, well-drained soils but is drought tolerant once established and does poorly in overly moist soils. Tickseed spreads via rhizomes and self seeds so it can get a bit pushy in a perennial garden. Plan on keeping it in check as needed.

Leave a Comment