Flower
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Lanceleaf Coreopsis 'Summer Sprite' is a Missouri native wildflower that brings cheerful, daisy-like yellow blooms to gardens from May through August. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4 to 9, reaching 9 to 24 inches tall depending on growing conditions, and flowers prolifically with minimal fuss. The distinctive petals have a torn, textured appearance that sets them apart from typical daisies, and the plant attracts butterflies while shrugging off drought and poor soil. Low-maintenance and deer-resistant, it flowers within 100 to 300 days and naturalizes beautifully in wildflower plantings and roadside gardens.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy Or Poor Soil
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
12 in
Width
TypeBush
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-9
Size
24in H x 12in W
Growth
—
Care
Low
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Yellow flowers with uniquely toothed, torn-looking ray petals bloom over an exceptionally long season, creating a natural, informal look that improves with deadheading. The plant's tolerance of poor, sandy, and rocky soils combined with genuine drought hardiness means it thrives where other perennials struggle, asking only for full sun and well-drained soil. Lance-shaped, hairy leaves on slender stems create an airy texture in the garden, and its ability to naturalize into large colonies makes it a no-fuss choice for prairies, glades, and wildflower borders.
Common Uses
Lanceleaf Coreopsis shines in wildflower meadows and naturalized plantings where its prolific self-seeding habit creates large, drifting colonies of golden blooms. It's equally at home in borders and prairie-style gardens, where deadheading encourages continuous flowering. The flowers work beautifully as cut flowers for informal arrangements, and the plant's tolerance of poor, rocky soils makes it an excellent choice for roadside plantings and waste areas where conventional garden plants falter.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors in warmth at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit approximately 100 to 300 days before your first expected fall frost, depending on your target bloom time. Start seeds in seed-starting mix and keep moist until germination.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date once they are established and the soil has warmed. Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting in their final location.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in spring after the last frost date or in fall for spring bloom. Press seeds lightly into the soil surface or barely cover them, as light aids germination. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flower stalks promptly to encourage additional blooms and prevent excessive self-seeding. In midsummer, cut plants back hard if they become sprawling or unkempt, particularly if grown in fertile or moist soils. In borders where the plant may spread aggressively, division every few years helps maintain neat appearance and prevents self-seeding from taking over neighboring plants.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantDrought TolerantAttracts Pollinators
Bloom Time
June To August
Attracts
Butterflies
Tolerances
DeerDroughtDry SoilShallow-rocky Soil
Scientific Classification
Coreopsis lanceolata 'Summer Sprite'
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Coreopsis
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (N)HI (I)CAN (N)
History & Origin
“Lanceleaf Coreopsis is native to the prairies, glades, fields, and roadsides of the Ozark region in Missouri, where it has grown wild for centuries. This wildflower was eventually collected and introduced into cultivation, becoming a staple of native plant gardens and wildflower seed mixes. The 'Summer Sprite' cultivar represents a refined selection of this species, bringing the wild coreopsis's reliability and charm into intentional garden spaces while maintaining the character and hardiness that made the original species a prairie icon.”