Swamp Tickseed: A Cheerful Native for Wet Spots
If you’ve got a soggy spot in your garden that seems impossible to plant, let me introduce you to your new best friend: swamp tickseed (Coreopsis palustris). This delightful native perennial doesn’t just tolerate wet feet—it absolutely thrives with them!
What Makes Swamp Tickseed Special?
Swamp tickseed is a true southeastern native, naturally found in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Unlike its more common cousins in the Coreopsis family, this species is specifically adapted to wetland conditions, making it a perfect solution for those challenging damp areas where other plants might struggle or rot.
This herbaceous perennial belongs to the forb family, meaning it’s a non-woody flowering plant that comes back year after year. What really sets it apart is its ability to handle everything from consistently moist soil to periodic flooding—a trait that makes it invaluable for modern sustainable landscaping.
A Flower That Keeps on Giving
The aesthetic appeal of swamp tickseed lies in its cheerful, bright yellow daisy-like blooms. Each flower features eight distinctively notched petals that seem to smile at you from the garden. The blooming period is impressively long, stretching from spring through fall, providing months of continuous color when many other plants have called it quits.
The plant typically reaches 2-4 feet in height with a spread of 1-2 feet, creating a nice upright presence without overwhelming smaller neighbors.
Perfect Spots for Swamp Tickseed
This native beauty shines in several landscape scenarios:
- Rain gardens and bioswales
- Pond or stream margins
- Wet meadow restorations
- Native plant gardens with irrigation
- Areas with poor drainage or seasonal flooding
It’s particularly valuable in pollinator gardens, where its long bloom time provides consistent nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the growing season.
Growing Conditions and Care
Here’s where swamp tickseed differs from most garden plants—it actually wants wet feet! This obligate wetland species requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions to thrive. While it can handle full sun to partial shade, it absolutely cannot tolerate drought conditions.
Key growing requirements include:
- Soil: Consistently moist to wet, tolerates various soil types as long as moisture is adequate
- Light: Full sun to partial shade (6+ hours of direct sunlight preferred)
- Water: Requires consistent moisture; perfect for areas that stay wet year-round
- USDA Zones: Hardy in zones 8-10, matching its southeastern native range
Planting and Care Tips
The good news about swamp tickseed is that once you get it established in the right conditions, it’s remarkably low-maintenance:
- Plant in spring after the last frost when soil can be worked
- Choose the wettest spot in your garden—this plant can handle seasonal flooding
- Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for mature spread
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering
- No fertilization needed in most cases—wet soils tend to be naturally fertile
- Division every 3-4 years can help maintain vigor and provide new plants
Wildlife and Ecosystem Benefits
Beyond its obvious pollinator appeal, swamp tickseed plays an important role in wetland ecosystems. It helps stabilize soil in wet areas, provides cover for small wildlife, and its seeds offer food for birds. As a native species, it supports local insect populations that have co-evolved with it over thousands of years.
Is Swamp Tickseed Right for Your Garden?
This plant is perfect for you if you have consistently wet areas that challenge other plants, want to create authentic southeastern native habitat, or need a reliable pollinator plant for damp spots. However, if your garden tends toward the dry side or you prefer plants that tolerate drought, you’ll want to consider other Coreopsis species instead.
Swamp tickseed represents a wonderful opportunity to work with your landscape’s natural conditions rather than fighting against them. In the right wet spot, it will reward you with months of sunny blooms and the satisfaction of supporting local wildlife—now that’s what I call a win-win!
