M ouse-eared tickseed is a native stoloniferous perennial in the aster (Asteraceae) family. It grows easily and is low maintenance, making its long blooms attractive in borders and beds, and it naturalizes easily. It tolerates humidity well and some dry conditions, but it is not as drought tolerant as some other species of Coreopsis . It is resistant to damage by deer. Deadheading of spent flower stalks is tedious for a large planting, but it will encourage additional bloom. Shear plants in mid-summer to promote a fall rebloom and to tidy lanky unkempt foliage. With ideal growing conditions, it spreads over time to form an attractive mass planting. Do not fear, the spread is easy to check if you need to keep it in line. Divide clumps in the spring to spread around your garden or share with friends. This plant was selected as the 1991 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems but crown rot may occur if grown in moist, poorly drained soils. It will sprawl out if grown in moist and/or fertile soils and it will show foliage burn in hot summer. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to pythium root rot.
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Ear-leaved tickseed has basal, hairy, ovate to elliptic leaves (to 3” long) are deep green. Each leaf has a distinctive pair of small lateral lobes at the base of the blade which resembles the shape of ears, hence the common names of ear-leaved tickseed or mouse-ear coreopsis.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Ear-leaved tickseed has daisy-like flowers (to 2” wide) have 8 yellow rays (each having a three-lobed apex) surrounding a yellow center disk. Flowers bloom primarily from April to June atop upright flower stalks rising 18” tall.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from June to July.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Round smooth green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
VA & KY, s. to GA & LA, east of Mississippi River
Distribution
AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
Wildlife value
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. Songbirds eat the seed.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#dainty #small flowers #nectar plant #yellow flowers #hummingbird friendly #fire medium flammability #vibrant #border planting #pollinator plant #stolons #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #NC native #native wildflower #food source nectar #food source pollen #sandy soils tolerant #bird friendly #dry soils tolerant #butterfly friendly #gold flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #Audubon #nectar plant early summer #nectar plant late spring #nectar plant mid-spring #food source hard mast fruit #NC Wildflower of the Year #cottage garden #NC Native Pollinator Plant #wildlife friendly #ccp #wildflower