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(Bidens alba)
Shepherd’s Needles (Bidens alba)
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Nicola van Berkel
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Nicola van Berkel
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Nicola van Berkel | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Nicola van Berkel | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2016-03-31T19:13:19-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Bidens alba, commonly known as Shepherd’s Needles or Spanish Needles, is a fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial herb native to the Americas, particularly thriving in disturbed sites, along roadsides, in fields, and in open woodlands. It can grow up to five feet tall and is characterized by its opposite leaves and bright flowers with white petals and yellow centers that bloom throughout the year in its native range. The flowers are highly attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Shepherd’s Needles is valued for its rapid growth and ability to colonize bare areas, making it useful for erosion control. It is also used in traditional medicine and has edible parts, though it is not commonly consumed. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade, tolerates a range of soil types, and requires moderate watering. While it can be an attractive addition to pollinator gardens, it is potentially invasive outside its native range and can outcompete native plants. Gardeners should be cautious and check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Shepherd’s Needles is valued for its rapid growth and ability to colonize bare areas, making it useful for erosion control. It is also used in traditional medicine and has edible parts, though it is not commonly consumed. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade, tolerates a range of soil types, and requires moderate watering. While it can be an attractive addition to pollinator gardens, it is potentially invasive outside its native range and can outcompete native plants. Gardeners should be cautious and check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 1-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: White, Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, and open woodlands
Other Names
Common Names: Beggarticks, Spanish Needles
Scientific Names: , Bidens alba, Bidens abortiva, Bidens bonplandii, Bidens brachycarpa, Bidens caucalidea, Bidens coronata, Bidens daucifolia, Bidens deamii, Bidens exaristata
GBIF Accepted Name: