Species Spanish Needles
a yellow flower with green leaves and light-green stem

Spanish Needles

Bidens bipinnata

Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata) is an annual flowering plant native to North, Central, and South America. It has simple, leathery leaves up to four inches long and yellow, daisy-like flowers with yellow petals and numerous whisker-like ray petals. The flower heads produce two-tailed achenes that resemble tiny sewing needles, hence its name. It grows in sunny areas where the soil is moist and well-drained, and can be used to add a splash of bright color to any landscape. Spanish Needles is hardy and fast-spreading, making it an ideal choice for gardeners who want quick blooms.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

watering

Bearded Beggarticks should be watered when the top 1 inch of soil is dry and will require moderate amount of water. Water your Bearded Beggarticks every 3-5 days, frequency depending on the condition of the soil. Water until it begins to come out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and the soil is evenly moist. In areas with high humidity, water plants less frequently, while those in drier climates may need water more often. Adjust accordingly.

sunlight

Bearded Beggarticks thrive on medium amounts of sunlight throughout the year. They thrive best in full sun or partial shade during the hot summer months, with 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. However, during the winter, these plants prefer to have 2 to 4 hours of indirect sunlight a day.

pruning

For the Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa), pruning is typically done each year in either late fall or early spring. Pruning should be done in order to maintain the desired shape and size of the plant. Pruning should only remove dead, unhealthy, and unproductive growth, leaving behind healthy branches and stems. Itā€™s best to prune the plant in stages, not all at once. Start with thinning, which involves removing up to a third of the healthy branches to maintain an open center, then proceed to cutting for shape by removing old wood, crossing branches, and any other branches that didnā€™t flower in the previous season. Finally, deadhead faded flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the growing season.

āš ļø Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.