Lance-Leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Lance-leaf Coreopsis, aka Sand Coreopsis, is a great plant for sunny spots that are dry, sandy or have poor soil. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees, butterflies, skippers, and day-flying moths. It is also the host for 18 different specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). The Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). On top of that, it is the host plant to 6 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). What a great plant to have in the landscape.
Photo Credit: Kim Starr
Lance-leaf Coreopsis, aka Sand Coreopsis, is a great plant for sunny spots that are dry, sandy or have poor soil. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees, butterflies, skippers, and day-flying moths. It is also the host for 18 different specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). The Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). On top of that, it is the host plant to 6 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). What a great plant to have in the landscape.
Photo Credit: Kim Starr
Lance-leaf Coreopsis, aka Sand Coreopsis, is a great plant for sunny spots that are dry, sandy or have poor soil. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees, butterflies, skippers, and day-flying moths. It is also the host for 18 different specialist bees (Johnson and Colla, 2023). The Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). On top of that, it is the host plant to 6 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). What a great plant to have in the landscape.
Photo Credit: Kim Starr
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry
Height: 2 feet
Plant Spacing: 10-16 inches
Bloom Time: May-August
Bloom Color: Yellow
Advantages: Bird Favorite, Pollinator Favorite, Deer Resistant, Great Landscaping plant,
Host Plant: 6 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Pseudopanurgus albitarsis, P. labrosiformis, P. solidaginis, Melissodes coreopsis, M. boltoniae, M. coloradensis, M. dentiventris, M. illatus, M. subillatus, M. trinodis, Savastra petulca, Dieunomia heteropoda, Megachile xylocopoides, Ashmeadiella bucconis, and Osmia coloradensis (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Complementary Plants: Wild Lupine, Pearly Everlasting, Purple Coneflower, Butterfly Weed, Black-eyed Susan.
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
