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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Mississippi Symbols

Mississippi State Wildflower

Coreopsis, Calliopsis, and Tickseed

(Coreopsis sp.)

Adopted in 1991.

The Mississippi State Wildflower

is Coreopsis, Calliopsis, and Tickseed, Coreopsis sp., adopted in 1991.

MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972
As Amended
SEC. 3-3-14. State wildflower.
The Coreopsis sp. is hereby designated as the state wildflower of Mississippi.
SOURCES: Laws, 1991, ch. 339, Sec. 1, eff from and after July 1, 1991.

Common Names:

Coreopsis, Calliopsis, and Tickseed

Description

Coreopsis spp. is a clump forming type of perennial (and sometimes grown as an annual) that produces single flower heads that are daisy-like and either single or double. This perennial flowers from late spring to mid summer and generally stops flowering when the summer heat hits. The mounds of flowers are from 12 to 24 inches in height and the same in width. This plant also flowers best in full sun however, if you provide some afternoon shade (the hottest part of the day) may help to extend the flowering period into the hotter months. Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' produces semi-double, deep yellow flowers that flush to orange-yellow near the center. They grow to a height of 18 inches tall.

Location

Native to southeastern United States. Found in sunny situations in meadows and at the roadside.

Culture

Exposure: Needs medium to full sun.
Water Requirements: Tolerates dry conditions and ordinary soil. Will also grow in shallow or chalky soils.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-10. Hardy.
Propagation: Propagate from seed and division of old clumps in spring. Sow seed in fall in mild regions or spring where plants are to flower.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae -- Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta -- Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Asteridae –
Order	Asterales –
Family	Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus	Coreopsis
Species	Coreopsis sp.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.