Coreopsis tinctoria
Origin: North America
Improvement status: Breeding population
Seeds per packet: ~60
Germination tested 10/2024: 70%
Life cycle: Annual
This beautiful wildflower native to central and eastern North America has a long history of use as both dye and medicine (and apparently the dried plant can make some sort of coffee substitute as well). A tea made from the root can be used to induce vomiting, and is also used to treat diarrhea. The name comes from its ability to produce a rust or mahogany-colored dye.
Our seed comes from Wild Garden Seeds in Oregon who explain that this population includes both "the species type bicolor-petal (red/yellow) flowers, and stunning crimson and yellow-speckled variations that are garden show-stoppers and pigment rich."
We're excited to have this beautiful native dye plant in our catalogue!
