Coreopsis palmata is one of the earliest of the prairie composites (members of the aster family that have composite inflorescences composed of multiple flowers) to come into flower. The eight bright yellow, sterile, ray flowers (petals) surround many fertile yellow disc flowers (small and typically not showy) to create a flower. A perennial native to Illinois and much of the central United States, it typically reaches 1 foot to 3 feet tall and blooms for two to three weeks in early summer. A number of native insects and mammals feed upon the nectar, pollen, and leaves of coreopsis. It is not fussy about soil, but excess water and fertilization can lead to floppy growth and poor flowering.

The genus Coreopsis is derived from the Greek term koris (bug) and opsis (like), referring to the seeds that are bug-like in appearance. One of its common names is tickseed. The genus can be found in both North and South America, but the center of speciation appears to be in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.