Coreopsis major is a perennial herb, 50-100 cm tall, from rhizomes but stems usually tufted, hairy.
Leaves opposite, 3-parted, stalkless, leaflets 3-8 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, upper leaves sometime undivided.
Flowers yellow, ray flowers 1-2.5 cm long, disk 0.7-1.5 cm wide, flowers yellow becoming red or purple, outer bracts of flower head base 8, bristly-hairy, to 0.3 cm long, inner bracts much wider and 2-3 times as long as outer; blooms July-Sept.
Fruit dry, 1-seeded achene 0.4-0.7 cm with a few bristles, sometimes awned.
Wetland status: UPL.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent.
Origin: Southern USA.
Habitat: Dry, open woods.