Smooth Beggartick
(Bidens laevis)
Smooth Beggartick (Bidens laevis)
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Evan M. Raskin
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Evan M. Raskin
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Evan M. Raskin | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Evan M. Raskin | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2016-10-02T15:15:46-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Bidens laevis, commonly known as Smooth Beggartick, is an annual or perennial herb native to wetland areas such as marshes, pond margins, and along stream banks in the Southern USA, Mexico, and South America. It can vary greatly in size, typically growing over 20 centimeters tall, but it can reach heights of one meter or more, sometimes approaching two meters in ideal conditions. The plant features narrow lance-shaped leaves that are 5 to 15 centimeters long, with finely toothed edges and pointed tips. The inflorescence consists of one or more flower heads that nod or bend downward as they mature and become heavy with fruit. Each head has a center of yellow disc florets surrounded by a fringe of 7 or 8 yellow ray florets, each up to 3 centimeters long, blooming from late summer to fall. The showy flowers attract pollinators, while the fruit is a dry achene equipped with sharp barbs that facilitate seed dispersal by adhering to animals and clothing.
Smooth Beggartick is appreciated for its bright yellow flowers and its ability to thrive in wet conditions, making it suitable for rain gardens, water features, and naturalized wetland plantings. It is often used for erosion control along waterways due to its dense root system. This plant prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, and it requires high amounts of water, often growing in soils with slow or standing drainage. While it is not typically prone to diseases, it can become weedy due to its prolific seed production and barbed seeds that spread easily. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to self-seed and spread within the garden.CC BY-SA 4.0
Smooth Beggartick is appreciated for its bright yellow flowers and its ability to thrive in wet conditions, making it suitable for rain gardens, water features, and naturalized wetland plantings. It is often used for erosion control along waterways due to its dense root system. This plant prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, and it requires high amounts of water, often growing in soils with slow or standing drainage. While it is not typically prone to diseases, it can become weedy due to its prolific seed production and barbed seeds that spread easily. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to self-seed and spread within the garden.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 4-5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: High
- Drainage: Slow, Standing
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Street Planting, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wetland areas such as marshes, pond margins, and stream banks
Other Names
Common Names: Bur Marigold , Smooth Beggarticks , Bur-Marigold
Scientific Names: Bidens laevis , Coreopsis radiata , Bidens chrysanthemoides , Bidens speciosa , Bidens helianthoides , Bidens nashii , Bidens parryi , Bidens expansa , Bidens formosa , Bidens elegans
GBIF Accepted Name: Bidens laevis (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.