227 Species in Genus Bidens

September 30 – Bidens
"Bidens, the beggar-tick, represents September 30."
Bidens symbolizes resilience and connection. You form bonds easily and endure through challenges. Like its tenacious seeds, you spread positivity wherever you go.

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Bidens Flowers: A Gardener’s Guide by Ferb Vu

For those seeking vibrant, easy-care flowers, look no further than Bidens. Often called “beggar’s ticks” or “tickseed sunflowers,” these cheerful blooms boast daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, white, pink, and even red.

Over the years, Bidens have become a favorite among gardeners for their resilience and continuous flowering throughout the summer. But with so many varieties and gardening myths surrounding them, here’s a breakdown to answer all your burning questions about Bidens flowers.

What are Bidens Flowers?

Bidens belong to the Asteraceae family, the same as daisies and sunflowers. There are roughly 227 species within the Bidens genus, found worldwide [Asteraceae family, Wikipedia]. These flowering plants are known for their fern-like foliage and cheerful, daisy-like blooms that resemble miniature sunflowers.

Bidens species

Bidens acrifolia Sherff
Bidens acuticaulis Sherff
Bidens aequisquama (Fernald) Sherff
Bidens alba (L.) DC. Plant FAQs: Bidens Alba – White Bidens
Bidens amplectens Sherff
Bidens amplissima Greene
Bidens andicola Kunth
Bidens andongensis Hiern
Bidens andrei Sherff
Bidens angustissima Kunth
Bidens anthemoides Sherff
Bidens anthriscoides DC.
Bidens aoraiensis M.L.Grant
Bidens arenicola Sherff
Bidens aristosa (Michx.) Britton Plant FAQs: Bidens Aristosa
Bidens asperata (Hutch. & Dalziel) Sherff
Bidens asymmetrica Sherff
Bidens aurea (Aiton) Sherff Plant FAQs: Bidens Ferulifolia – Threadleaf Bidens – Bidens Aurea
Bidens balsana Melchert
Bidens barteri (Oliv. & Hiern) T.G.J.Rayner
Bidens baumii Sherff
Bidens beckiana (F.Br.) Sherff
Bidens beckii Torr. ex Spreng.
Bidens bicolor Greenm.
Bidens bidentoides (Nutt.) Britton
Bidens bigelovii A.Gray
Bidens bipinnata L. Plant FAQs: Bidens Bipinnata – Spanish Needles
Bidens bipontina Sherff
Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff
Bidens blakei (Sherff) Melchert
Bidens borianiana (Sch.Bip. ex Schweinf.) Cufod.
Bidens brandegeei Sherff
Bidens brasiliensis Sherff
Bidens buchneri Sherff
Bidens burundiensis M.Tadesse
Bidens cabopulmensis León de la Luz & B.L.Turner
Bidens campanulata Bringel & T.B.Cavalc.
Bidens camporum (Hutch.) Mesfin
Bidens campylotheca Sch.Bip.
Bidens carinata Cufod. ex Mesfin
Bidens cernua L.
Bidens cervicata Sherff
Bidens chiapensis Brandegee
Bidens chippii (M.B.Moss) Mesfin
Bidens chodatii Hassl.
Bidens chrysanthemifolia (Kunth) Sherff
Bidens cinerea Sherff
Bidens clarendonensis Britton
Bidens clavata Ballard
Bidens colimana Melchert
Bidens conjuncta Sherff
Bidens connata Muhl. ex Willd.
Bidens cordifolia Sch.Bip.
Bidens cordylocarpa (A.Gray) D.J.Crawford
Bidens cornuta Sherff
Bidens cosmoides Sherff
Bidens crocea Welw. ex O.Hoffm.
Bidens cronquistii (Sherff) Melchert
Bidens cynapiifolia Kunth
Bidens × decipiens Warnst.
Bidens deltoidea J.W.Moore
Bidens discoidea Britton
Bidens diversa Sherff
Bidens domingensis O.E.Schulz
Bidens eatonii Fernald
Bidens edentula G.M.Barroso
Bidens ekmanii O.E.Schulz ex Urb.
Bidens elgonensis (Sherff) Agnew
Bidens elliotii Sherff
Bidens engleri O.E.Schulz
Bidens esmartinezii Villaseñor
Bidens evapelliana W.L.Wagner, J.R.Clark & Lorence
Bidens exigua Sherff
Bidens fischeri (O.Hoffm.) Sherff
Bidens fistulosa Sch.Bip. ex Baker
Bidens flabellata O.Hoffm.
Bidens flagellaris Baker
Bidens flagellata (Sherff) Mesfin
Bidens forbesii Sherff
Bidens frondosa L. Plant FAQs: Bidens Frondosa
Bidens gardneri Baker
Bidens × garumnae Jeanj. & Debray
Bidens gentryi Sherff
Bidens ghedoensis Mesfin
Bidens glandulifera M.L.Grant
Bidens goiana B.L.Turner
Bidens gracillima Sherff
Bidens grantii Sherff
Bidens graveolens Mart.
Bidens gypsophila Miranda
Bidens hassleriana (Chodat) A.A.Sáenz
Bidens hawaiensis A.Gray
Bidens hendersonensis Sherff
Bidens henryi Sherff
Bidens herzogii (Sherff) D.J.N.Hind
Bidens heterodoxa Fernald & H.St.John
Bidens heterosperma A.Gray
Bidens hildebrandtii O.Hoffm.
Bidens hillebrandiana (Drake) O.Deg. ex Sherff
Bidens hintonii (Sherff) Melchert
Bidens holstii Sherff
Bidens holwayi Sherff & S.F.Blake
Bidens hyperborea Greene
Bidens insolita Sherff
Bidens isostigmatoides Sherff
Bidens kamerunensis Sherff
Bidens kamtschatica Vassilcz.
Bidens kilimandscharica (O.Hoffm.) Sherff
Bidens kirkii Sherff
Bidens laevis (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
Bidens lantanoides A.Gray
Bidens lejolyana Lisowski
Bidens lemmonii A.Gray
Bidens leptocephala Sherff
Bidens leptophylla C.H.An
Bidens lineariloba Oliv.
Bidens longistyla C.R.Hart
Bidens macrocarpa Sherff
Bidens macroptera (Sch.Bip. ex Chiov.) Mesfin
Bidens magnifolia Sherff
Bidens malawiensis Mesfin
Bidens mandonii (Sherff) Cabrera
Bidens mannii T.G.J.Rayner
Bidens mathewsii Sherff
Bidens mauiensis Sherff
Bidens maximowicziana Oett.
Bidens melchertii B.L.Turner
Bidens menziesii Sherff
Bidens mesfinii Anderb.
Bidens mexicana Sherff
Bidens meyeri V.A.Funk & K.R.Wood
Bidens micrantha Gaudich.
Bidens microcephala W.L.Wagner, J.R.Clark & Lorence
Bidens microphylla Sherff
Bidens minensis Sherff
Bidens mitis Sherff
Bidens mollifolia Sherff
Bidens molokaiensis Sherff
Bidens monticola Poepp.
Bidens mooreensis M.L.Grant
Bidens moorei Sherff
Bidens × multiceps Fassett
Bidens nana M.O.Dillon
Bidens negriana (Sherff) Cufod.
Bidens nobilioides Sherff
Bidens nudata Brandegee
Bidens oaxacana Melchert
Bidens oblonga (Sherff) Wild
Bidens occidentalis (Hutch. & Dalziel) Mesfin
Bidens ocellata (Greenm.) Melchert
Bidens ochracea Sherff
Bidens odora (Sherff) T.G.J.Rayner
Bidens oerstediana Sherff
Bidens oligantha Brandegee
Bidens oligoflora (Klatt) Wild
Bidens orofenensis M.L.Grant
Bidens ostruthioides (DC.) Sch.Bip.
Bidens pachyloma (Oliv. & Hiern) Cufod.
Bidens paniculata Hook. & Arn.
Bidens parviflora Willd.
Bidens pilosa L. Plant FAQs: Bidens Pilosa
Bidens pinnatipartita (O.Hoffm.) Wild
Bidens × polakii Velen.
Bidens polycephala Sch.Bip.
Bidens polylepis S.F.Blake
Bidens populifolia Sherff
Bidens prestinaria (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) Cufod.
Bidens pringlei Greenm.
Bidens pseudalausensis Sherff
Bidens pseudocosmos Sherff
Bidens radiata Thuill.
Bidens raiateensis J.W.Moore
Bidens reptans G.Don
Bidens riedelii Baker
Bidens riparia Kunth
Bidens rosemaniana B.L.Turner & Melchert
Bidens rostrata Melchert
Bidens rubicundula Sherff
Bidens rubifolia Kunth
Bidens rueppellii (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) Sherff
Bidens ruyigiensis T.G.J.Rayner
Bidens saint-johniana Sherff
Bidens saltillensis Melchert
Bidens sambucifolia Cav.
Bidens sandvicensis Less.
Bidens schaffneri (A.Gray) Sherff
Bidens schimperi Sch.Bip. ex Walp.
Bidens segetum Mart. ex Colla
Bidens serboana B.L.Turner
Bidens serrulata (Poir.) Desf.
Bidens setigera (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) Sherff
Bidens sharpii (Sherff) Melchert
Bidens shrevei Britton
Bidens sierra-leonensis Mesfin
Bidens simplicifolia C.H.Wright
Bidens societatis J.W.Moore
Bidens socorrensis Moran & G.A.Levin
Bidens somaliensis Sherff
Bidens steppia Sherff
Bidens steyermarkii Sherff
Bidens subalternans DC.
Bidens subspiralis McVaugh
Bidens taylorii Sherff
Bidens tenera O.E.Schulz
Bidens tenuisecta A.Gray
Bidens ternata (Chiov.) Sherff
Bidens tetraspinosa Majeed Kak & Javeid
Bidens torta Sherff
Bidens trelawniensis Proctor
Bidens trichosperma (Michx.) Britton
Bidens tripartita L.
Bidens triplinervia Kunth
Bidens uapensis (F.Br.) Sherff
Bidens ugandensis (S.Moore) Sherff
Bidens urceolata De Wild.
Bidens urophylla Sherff
Bidens valida Sherff
Bidens vulgata Greene
Bidens wailele K.R.Wood & Knope
Bidens whytei Sherff
Bidens wichmanii W.L.Wagner, J.R.Clark & Lorence
Bidens wiebkei Sherff
Bidens woodii W.L.Wagner, J.R.Clark & Lorence
Bidens xanti (A.Gray) B.L.Turner
Bidens xilinensis Y.Z.Zhao & L.Q.Zhao
Bidens zairensis Lisowski
Bidens zavattarii Cufod.

Are Bidens Flowers Annuals or Perennials?

Most Bidens varieties are grown as annuals, thriving for a single season and reaching maturity within a few months. However, in warmer climates (zones 8-11), some Bidens varieties can act as short-lived perennials, returning year after year with proper care [Bidens – Wikipedia].

Popular Bidens Varieties

With over 200 species, Bidens offer a diverse range of flower shapes, sizes, and colors. Here are some popular choices for your garden:

Bidens ferulifolia ‘Golden Nugget’: This compact variety features bright yellow, star-shaped petals with an orange center, perfect for containers and hanging baskets.
Bidens pilosa: Commonly called “blackjack” or “Spanish needles,” this variety produces a profusion of yellow, daisy-like blooms throughout the summer.
Bidens alba: This unique variety boasts pure white, daisy-like flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden.
Bidens ‘Million Stars’: True to its name, this variety explodes with countless small, golden-yellow flowers that resemble a starry sky.

Bidens vs. Cosmos Flowers

Both Bidens and Cosmos flowers are popular choices for summer gardens, offering long blooming seasons and vibrant colors. Here’s a quick comparison:

Flower shape: Bidens boast daisy-like flowers with single or double rows of petals. Cosmos flowers have single rows of broad, flat petals, creating a more open and airy look.
Flower size: Bidens flowers come in a range of sizes, from small and delicate to larger and showier. Cosmos flowers tend to have larger blooms, adding a bolder statement to the garden.
Foliage: Bidens have finer, fern-like foliage, while Cosmos flowers boast broader, feathery leaves.
Growth habit: Bidens can be trailing, mounding, or upright depending on the variety. Cosmos flowers typically grow in a bushier, upright form.

How to care for Bidens Flowers?

Bidens are a gardener’s dream, requiring minimal care to thrive. Here’s what you need to know:

Light: Bidens prefer full sun but can tolerate some light afternoon shade.
Soil: Plant Bidens in well-drained, fertile soil. Amending your soil with compost before planting is beneficial.
Watering: Water your Bidens regularly, especially during hot and dry periods. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Fertilizing: Bidens are not heavy feeders. A light application of balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season is sufficient.
Deadheading: Regularly deadheading spent flowers will encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer. Simply pinch off the faded blooms at the base of the stem.

Are Bidens Flowers Invasive?

While some Bidens varieties can self-seed readily, they are not typically considered invasive plants. However, it’s always a good practice to deadhead spent flowers before they go to seed to control their spread, especially if you have limited space in your garden.

Bidens Flowers: A Summertime Delight

With their vibrant colors, easy care, and long blooming season, Bidens flowers are a valuable addition to any garden. Whether you choose trailing varieties for hanging baskets or mounding varieties for borders, Bidens will bring a burst of cheer and effortless beauty to your summer landscape.