e503Coreopsis (/ˌkɒriːˈɒpsɪs/[2]) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include calliopsis and tickseed, a name shared with various other plants.
These plants range from 46–120 cm (18–47 in) in height. The flowers are usually yellow with a toothed tip, but may also be yellow-and-red bicolor.[3] They have showy flower heads with involucral bracts in two distinct series of eight each, the outer being commonly connate at the base. The flat fruits are small and dry and look like insects.
There are 75–80 species of Coreopsis, all of which are native to North, Central, and South America. The name Coreopsis is derived from the Greek words κόρις (koris), meaning “bedbug”, and ὄψις (opsis), meaning “view”, referring to the shape of the achene.[4][5]
Coreopsis species are a source of nectar and pollen for insects.[3] The species is known to provide food to caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species, including Coleophora acamtopappi. The sunny, summer-blooming, daisy-like flowers are popularly planted in gardens to attract butterflies. Both annual and perennial types are grown in the home garden (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/6b).[3] In the Mid-Atlantic region, insects such as bees, hover flies, and wasps are often observed visiting the flowers.[3]
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