Virginia ecotype - Hanover County
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, clump-forming, sometimes spreading by rhizomes
Size: 4 to 8 feet tall; 2 to 4 feet wide
Flowering Time: July to September
Bloom Color: Bright yellow with dark centers
Habitat: Prairies, meadows, open wood edges, streambanks, and roadsides
Moisture: Average to moist; well-drained soils preferred but tolerant of clay
Light: Full sun (tolerates light part sun)
Soils: Loamy, sandy, or clay soils
Uses: Tall borders, pollinator gardens, naturalized meadows, prairie restorations, erosion control
Coreopsis tripteris (Tall coreopsis)
Coreopsis tripteris, known as Tall Coreopsis, is one of the largest members of the genus, rising to heights of 6–8 feet in ideal conditions. It is characterized by upright, slender stems topped with clusters of daisy-like yellow flowers with dark centers that bloom in midsummer to early fall.
Its foliage is divided into narrow, three-parted leaves, giving it a fine-textured, airy appearance that contrasts beautifully with its bold flower display. Its height and long-lasting blooms make it a standout species in prairie-style plantings, meadows, and naturalized landscapes. The plants are prone to flopping when planted in high nutrient soils and in areas with low plant competition, and may require staking or caging in average gardens.
Tall Coreopsis provides a reliable nectar and pollen source for a wide range of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps. Coreopsis species attract specialist bees that primarily forage on them, including some species in the genus Pseudopanurgus. The flowers also attract beetles and hoverflies, while birds such as goldfinches feed on the seeds in late summer and fall.
Its tall, upright growth provides cover for wildlife in meadow and prairie ecosystems, and it works especially well in plantings alongside other tall natives like Eutrochium purpureum (Joe-Pye Weed) and Silphium asteriscus (Whorled rosinweed). With both ornamental and ecological value, Coreopsis tripteris is a keystone species in tallgrass prairie restorations and a striking addition to gardens.