Blossom calliopsis: a fall bloom
By Camilla Salem
Plains coreopsis, also known as calliopsis,
mental, often used for road beautification
is one of those flowers that scream Fall.
purposes.
The yellow and burgundy colors of the wildflower effortlessly bring the season into your home, but it’s wonderful to know the background story of the blooms you buy or plant. Its genus name, coreopsis, actually comes from the Greek word for “bug,” so it makes sense that the flower
Grab a big bunch of the wildflower at your local flower store or grocery store (or off the side of the road should you find them), and place them in a terra-cotta vase or a mason jar. Cut the ends of the flowers every few days, and change the water to keep your blooms looking bright and happy.
is incredibly popular with all kinds of insects, especially bees and butterflies. As a native wildflower of the Southern United States, Native American once used the root and blossoms of the plant for teas (which was said to have medicinal purposes) and dyes. These days the flower is mostly orna-
FAL L 2012
| 21