Spanish Needles
Bidens bipinnata
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Bidens
- Species:
- Bidens bipinnata
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 4-6 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul, aug, sep, oct
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Ontario
Keystone Species Ranking
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Goldenrod Stowaway (Cirrhophanus triangulifer), Mobile Groundling Moth (Condica mobilis), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius), Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Crescents (Phyciodes Hübner), Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala), Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), (Pyrgus Hübner), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin), Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Southern Cloudywing (Cecropterus Herrich-Schäffer), Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus), Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia), Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in disturbed areas