Golden Wave Coreopsis Native Wildflower Seeds - Coreopsis basalis

🌼 Overview of Coreopsis basalis (Goldenmane Tickseed)
Native Range: Southeastern and south-central U.S., especially Texas and Florida
Life Cycle: Annual (occasionally short-lived perennial in warmer zones)
Height: 1–2 feet
Pollinator-friendly: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
Bloom Time: Spring through summer

🌱 Sowing Options
1️⃣ Direct Sowing Outdoors
Best Time to Sow:
Fall: Excellent option in southern/warm climates—may overwinter and bloom earlier.
Early Spring: After danger of hard frost has passed and soil begins to warm.
Site Selection:
Sunlight: Full sun (6–8+ hours/day minimum).
Soil: Prefers sandy, well-drained soil.
Tolerates poor/nutrient-lean soils; avoid heavy clay or waterlogged areas.
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic (6.0–7.0)
Soil Preparation:
Loosen soil to about 4–6 inches.
Rake smooth, removing weeds and debris.
Do not over-enrich the soil—plants thrive in low-fertility conditions.
Planting Depth:
Surface sow or press into soil lightly; do not bury.
If covering, do so very lightly with fine soil or sand (~1/16 inch).
Watering:
Water gently after sowing.
Keep soil lightly moist until germination (7–21 days).
Once established, water only during prolonged dry periods.
Stratification:
Not required.
Fall sowing offers natural exposure to weather but isn’t needed for germination success.
Scarification:
Not needed.

2️⃣ Starting Seeds Indoors (for Spring Transplanting)
When to Start:
4–6 weeks before last frost date in your region.
Growing Setup:
Use trays or pots with well-draining seed-starting mix.
Surface sow seeds—do not bury.
Provide bright light (sunny window or grow lights, 14–16 hours/day).
Watering Indoors:
Mist or bottom-water to avoid displacing seeds.
Keep mix lightly moist until germination.
Transplanting Outdoors:
Harden off seedlings for 7–10 days before transplanting outdoors.
Transplant after last frost into a sunny, well-drained location.

🔧 Maintenance Tips
Low-maintenance once established.
Water only during drought; avoid overwatering.
No fertilizer needed; lean soils encourage more blooms.
Deadheading can extend blooming period.
Allow some seedheads to mature for self-seeding next season.
May not overwinter in colder zones, but will self-sow readily in appropriate conditions.

🚫 Invasiveness
Not considered invasive.
Spreads by seed, but does not aggressively overtake other native plants.
Easy to manage in garden settings.

Native Plant Map

Dark Green indicates the plant is native within the state, yellow rare, the lime green indicates where the plant is native and seen more within a state.

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