Florida's Protection of Coreopsis Basalis

Not Just for Roadsides Anymore

By Dick Bush
(386) 961-7255
Florida DOT, District 2

Nonnative blue bonnets and paintbrush reseed annually in Florida.

The photo submitted for Category III, Protected Native Remnants, shows stands of native Coreopsis, Coreopsis Basalis. This plant not only covers the road right-of-way but most roads and old fields in the North Florida area. For many years the only way the plant was distributed was by mowing machines. Consequently most of the older roads in North Florida have an abundance of this plant. Mowing for the first and possibly the second cycle is restricted to one pass on each side of the road. This allows the Coreopsis to complete its bloom cycle and produce seed for the following year. When the mowers do mow the old plants they scatter the seed plus move seed to other areas.

This Coreopsis seed has never been available on the seed market. In the last two to three years farmers in North Florida have learned to grow and harvest this seed. They have been very successful in this endeavor consequently there is an abundance of this seed available. This plant is well suited for right of way planting. The plant thrives on disturbed land that is sandy in nature and well drained. This Coreopsis is a full sun grower and tolerates drought. It is found growing with the native Phlox and other native and non-native wildflowers. The Coreopsis Basalis is also found in other southern states.

This coreopis was unavailable on the market, so mowers moved seed.

The photo submitted for Category II, Non-native planting, is a planting done by the employees of the Lake City Maintenance unit about fifteen years ago. It has proved to be one of the most successful plantings ever attempted. Over the years this planting has been exposed to construction debris, a sign contractor leaving large interstate signs lying on the site, mowing contractors mowing at the wrong time, harsh weather conditions, etc. With all of the adverse conditions the Texas Blue Bonnets and Texas Paintbrush continue to reseed and come back each year. We are seeing other sites in the area with the Blue Bonnets and Paintbrush. We believe seeds are being moved by the mowers and tractor tires.

In an effort to improve the Wildflower Program the Department of Transportation is working closely with the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Agriculture, and the Florida Wildflower Seed Producers Co-Op. At present there are eleven species of native wildflower seeds available. Some species are very limited and available only on a research level.

The Florida Wildflower Advisory Council formed a few years ago, along with the Florida Wildflower vehicle license plate, is presently administering funds from the sale of the license plates. The funds are being used at present for research grants. Other grants are being planned for education, community native planting projects, etc. The sale of the Wildflower license late has recently topped $1,000,000.00. The future of Florida Wildflowers is bright.