Coreopsis tinctoria
Calliopsis
(c) Devin Kellar, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Coreopsis tinctoria (Calliopsis) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by (C. lanceolata). Distinctive highly divided leaves and branching pattern provide clear separation.
Calliopsis is a naturalized perennial found in the Central Valley, Central Western, and Southwestern California bioregions in disturbed places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow and red-orange flowers with ray petals 6 to 20 millimeters long and distinctive red-orange disk centers. Growing with erect, much-branched stems 30 to 120 centimeters tall, it forms an open, leafy plant with multiple branches. Its leaves are divided, with lower leaves having 1 to 2 levels of narrow linear lobes while upper leaves remain simple and linear. The fruit is small, linear to elliptic, and black with no distinctive pappus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species (C. lanceolata). Distinctive highly divided leaves and branching pattern provide clear separation.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places, escaped from cultivation
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: native northwestern United States to eastern United States
Bloom period
Coreopsis tinctoria blooms Generally Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Calendula: Opposite leaves vs. alternate leaves in pot marigold.; vs Tagetes: Two-layered bracts (leafy outer, thin inner) vs. fused tube of bracts in marigold.; vs Leptosyne: Opposite leaves vs. alternate or basal leaves in Leptosyne.; vs Gaillardia: Flat or no seed scales vs. bristle-tipped scales in Gaillardia.; vs Gazania: Opposite leaves and two-layered bracts vs. basal leaves only in treasure flower.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coreopsis tinctoria native to California?
No. Coreopsis tinctoria is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Coreopsis tinctoria bloom?
Coreopsis tinctoria blooms Generally Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Coreopsis tinctoria belong to?
Coreopsis tinctoria is in the Asteraceae family, genus Coreopsis.
What habitat does Coreopsis tinctoria grow in?
Coreopsis tinctoria grows in Disturbed places, escaped from cultivation.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.