Mt. Hamilton Tickseed: A Rare California Wildflower Worth Protecting
If you’re a California native plant enthusiast, you might have heard whispers about Mt. Hamilton tickseed (Coreopsis hamiltonii), one of the Golden State’s most elusive wildflowers. This little annual holds a special place in California’s botanical heritage, but it’s not one you should be adding to your shopping list just yet.
What Makes Mt. Hamilton Tickseed Special?
Mt. Hamilton tickseed is a true California native, found nowhere else in the world except within the state’s borders. This annual forb belongs to the sunflower family and was historically known by the synonym Leptosyne hamiltonii. Like other members of the Coreopsis family, it likely produces cheerful, daisy-like flowers that would make any wildflower lover’s heart skip a beat.
Where Does It Call Home?
This rare beauty is endemic to California, with its common name giving away its connection to the Mt. Hamilton area. The species has an extremely limited geographic distribution, making it one of California’s botanical treasures that exists in just a handful of locations.
The Rarity Factor: Why You Should Think Twice
Here’s where things get serious, fellow gardeners. Mt. Hamilton tickseed carries a Global Conservation Status of S2, which translates to Imperiled. This classification means the species is hanging on by a thread, with typically only 6 to 20 known occurrences and potentially just 1,000 to 3,000 individual plants remaining in the wild.
What does this mean for gardeners? While we’d love to celebrate this native beauty in our gardens, planting Mt. Hamilton tickseed comes with enormous responsibility. If you’re considering growing this species, it should only be done:
- In partnership with conservation organizations
- Using responsibly sourced, legally obtained material
- As part of official conservation efforts
- With proper permits if required
Growing Conditions and Care
As an annual forb, Mt. Hamilton tickseed completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. However, specific growing conditions, care requirements, and USDA hardiness zones for this rare species are not well-documented in cultivation guides. This lack of information underscores just how uncommon this plant is in both wild and cultivated settings.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Instead of potentially contributing to the decline of this imperiled species, consider these more common California native Coreopsis alternatives that will give you similar aesthetic appeal:
- Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
- Sea dahlia (Coreopsis maritima)
- Douglas’ coreopsis (Coreopsis douglasii)
- Bigelow’s coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii)
These species offer the same sunny, cheerful blooms that make Coreopsis so beloved, while being much more suitable for home cultivation.
How You Can Help
If Mt. Hamilton tickseed has captured your imagination, channel that enthusiasm into conservation action. Consider supporting organizations that work to protect California’s rare plants, participating in citizen science projects, or volunteering with local botanical gardens that focus on native plant conservation.
Remember, sometimes the best way to show love for a plant is to admire it from afar and let it thrive in its natural habitat. Mt. Hamilton tickseed represents the incredible diversity of California’s flora – a diversity that’s worth protecting for future generations of both plants and plant lovers.
