Coreopsis, the state wildflower of Florida and Mississippi
Coreopsis, often called tickseed, is the state wildflower of two southern states, and both adopted it in the same year, 1991. Florida and Mississippi each named the whole genus rather than a single species, so any coreopsis counts. In Florida, the law notes, coreopsis grows across the state and is widely planted along highways.
The 2 states
| State | Designation | Name in state law | Adopted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | State wildflower | Coreopsis (tickseed)Fla. Stat. § 15.0345 (ch. 91-10, Laws of Fla.) | 1991 |
| Mississippi | State wildflower | CoreopsisChapter 339, General Laws of 1991; Miss. Code § 3-3-14 | 1991 |
Two states in one year
Florida and Mississippi both adopted coreopsis as their state wildflower in 1991. Neither picked a single species: both laws name the genus Coreopsis, the plants often called tickseeds.
Wildflower and flower
In both states coreopsis is the wildflower, alongside a separate state flower. Florida’s state flower is the orange blossom, the flower of a cultivated tree that is not native to the state, so the native coreopsis fills the wildflower role. Florida’s law notes that coreopsis species grow across the state and are widely planted along its highways. Mississippi’s state flower is the magnolia, the bloom of the native southern magnolia, and the coreopsis serves as its separate wildflower.
How to recognize coreopsis
Coreopsis flowers are daisy-like heads with a small central disc ringed by ray petals whose tips are toothed. Thirteen species grow in Florida, and eleven of them are generally considered native. One of the most familiar there, Leavenworth’s tickseed, grows 1 to 3 feet tall, with finely divided leaves 6 to 8 inches long and bright yellow flowers with a dark brown center. Depending on the part of Florida, it can bloom in any season.
Questions people ask
- Which states have coreopsis as their state wildflower?
- Florida and Mississippi, both since 1991.
- Which species of coreopsis is the state wildflower?
- Neither state names one. Both laws name the genus Coreopsis, so every species counts.
- What is another name for coreopsis?
- Tickseed.
- How many kinds of coreopsis grow in Florida?
- Thirteen species, eleven of them generally considered native, according to the University of Florida.
Sources
- Florida Statutes § 15.0345 (state wildflower) The Florida Legislature
- Coreopsis leavenworthii: Leavenworth's Tickseed (FP142) University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Coreopsis spp.: Tickseed, Coreopsis (FP143) University of Florida IFAS Extension
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, Chapter 15: Secretary of State The Florida Legislature
- Mississippi Official and Statistical Register (Blue Book) 2024-2028, General Information Mississippi Secretary of State