Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,617 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Plains Coreopsis: observations by month (U.S.)
About Plains Coreopsis
Plains coreopsis, garden tickseed, golden tickseed, or calliopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria, is an annual forb. The plant is common to Canada (from Quebec to British Columbia), northeast Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas), and much of the United States, especially the Great Plains and Southern states where it is often called "calliopsis." The species is also widely cultivated in and naturalized in China.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Plains Coreopsis by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,270 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 163 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 147 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 118 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 107 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 88 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Arizona | 80 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 59 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 57 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 49 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 44 | July | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 39 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 37 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Alabama | 35 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 32 | June | May–Jul |
| Virginia | 31 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 31 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Colorado | 26 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Maryland | 26 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Oregon | 21 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Illinois | 17 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Connecticut | 14 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kansas | 12 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey | 12 | July | Jul–Aug |
| South Carolina | 12 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 12 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Michigan | 11 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Indiana | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Nebraska | 8 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 7 | September | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 6 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 5 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 5 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Plains Coreopsis?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Plains Coreopsis most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Arkansas.