Did you know that all species of Coreopsis were designated as the state wildflower of Florida in 1991? Well, now you do. The delightful Coreopsis is native to the North, South and Central Americas and derived from the Greek words, koris meaning “bedbug” and opsis meaning “view.” These flowers are the plant foods for some species, such as caterpillars and attract their counterpart, butterflies.
Of the many different varieties of Coreopsis in existence, The Cummer Gardens is home to the beautiful Coreopsis verticillata. Also known as the “Pot-of-Gold,” this friendly flower blooms in a bright lemon-yellow from the beginning of summer right to the very end. And if you’re looking to start a garden of your own, Coreopsis verticillata is a beautiful way to start. It is not difficult to grow, very easy to maintain, compliments nearly any other type of flower and has a particularly long life. It is able to withstand even the worst of conditions, such as poor soil, extreme heat, drought and neglect. But let’s be honest, once you have this marvelous flower in your garden, you won’t be able to neglect it.