Common Beggar-Ticks (Bidens frondosa)

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Bidens frondosa, commonly known as Common Beggar-Ticks, is a native annual wildflower found in wetlands, streambanks, meadows, and disturbed areas throughout Illinois. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial shade.

This plant features deeply lobed, serrated leaves and produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers in late summer to fall. The flowers are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. After flowering, it produces seed heads with spiny hooks, which are often carried by animals, aiding in seed dispersal. Bidens frondosa can grow to a height of 1 to 3 feet, typically taking on a somewhat bushy, upright form.

For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Bidens frondosa is a valuable addition to wetland or rain garden plantings, as it provides seasonal color and attracts beneficial pollinators. Though its seeds can be somewhat troublesome, adhering to fur or clothing, the plant serves important ecological functions, including supporting wildlife and helping to stabilize soil in moist areas.

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Bidens frondosa, commonly known as Common Beggar-Ticks, is a native annual wildflower found in wetlands, streambanks, meadows, and disturbed areas throughout Illinois. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial shade.

This plant features deeply lobed, serrated leaves and produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers in late summer to fall. The flowers are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. After flowering, it produces seed heads with spiny hooks, which are often carried by animals, aiding in seed dispersal. Bidens frondosa can grow to a height of 1 to 3 feet, typically taking on a somewhat bushy, upright form.

For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Bidens frondosa is a valuable addition to wetland or rain garden plantings, as it provides seasonal color and attracts beneficial pollinators. Though its seeds can be somewhat troublesome, adhering to fur or clothing, the plant serves important ecological functions, including supporting wildlife and helping to stabilize soil in moist areas.

Bloom: late summer to early fall

Habitats: banks of drainage canals; both cultivated and abandoned fields; borders of lakes and ponds; marshes; miscellaneous waste areas; moist areas of black soil prairies; moist meadows near woodlands or rivers; openings in floodplain woodlands and young flatwoods; poorly drained areas along railroads and roadsides; seeps; swamps

Lifespan: annual

Moisture: moist

Plant type (height): forb (1 to 3 feet)

Requirements: full sun to partial sun

Soil: reasonably fertile, with sufficient organic material to retain moisture