Threadleaf tickseed is a flowering herbaceous perennial, native to eastern Canada and eastern United States, and a member of the daisy family that grows in dense bushy clumps. It may grow 2 to 3 feet tall with a similar spread. The delicate, dark-green leaves of this poplular garden flower are divided into thread-like segments and the long-blooming flower heads have yellow centers and untoothed petals. It is fairly common in the central and eastern Piedmont of North Carolina, but less so in the mountains, western Piedmont, or Coastal Plain. This plant thrives with full sun to partial shade in infertile sandy and rocky soils and tolerates drought, low levels of salt, infertile soil, heat, and humidity. If the soil is too rich or moist, stems become weak and plants tend to flop. The clumps will spread by rhizomes and can be divided every 2-3 years. It will also self-seed. Shearing the plant after blooming will sometimes produce fall flowers. Propagate by dividing either in the fall or early spring. Seeds may be sown outside in late fall or the following spring without any cold treatment. Seedlings grow rapidly. This plant provides an airy appearance to the sunny border, naturalized area, native garden, or mass plantings. Its long bloom season provides a profusion of daisy-like yellow flowers. It is an easy-care plant that will give you years of enjoyment. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
The stemless, thread-like, dark-green leaves are divided into 3 segments in a whorled pattern around the stems.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1-2 inch daisy-like flowers have 8 petals around a yellow center disk in loose clusters, They bloom from May to July. Unlike some coreopsis, the petals are not notched.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dark colored achene seed form after blooming. Displays from July to October.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Thin green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and the United States south to Georgia
Distribution
Introduced into Belgium, France, Norway, and Germany.
Wildlife value
Its nectar are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Its seeds are eaten by songbirds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow