Western Tickseed Bidens aristosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BI-denz a-ris-TOE-suh
- Description
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Long-Bracted Tickseed Sunflower is a herbaceous annual or biennial herb with a deep taproot that may grow 2-4 feet in height. It can be found in all parts of NC but is sparse in the mountains. The leaves have a sharply toothed margin, are opposite and pinnately compound (sometimes bi-pinnately compound). Large, yellow flowers mature in late summer and continue into early fall. The herb produces a thin dry seed (achene) that often has barbs.
It has been used mainly for landscape beautification but has a potential for use in cultivated garden situations, in naturalized prairie or meadow plantings, and along roadsides. It grows and flowers best in full sun, but is also adapted to partial shade. Plants are often found growing in the open shade along the edge of a woodland. It is adapted to most soil types, except for very sandy soils. Natural stands are generally found on moist sites such as in ditches, marshes, and wet meadows.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bidens
- Species:
- aristosa
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern Canada to U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer. Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies and bees. Its seeds are eaten by songbirds and ducks. Members of the genus Bidens support the following specialized bee: Dieunomia (Dieunomia) heteropoda.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Barbed achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Numerous solitary flower heads held on long stalks. Each head is 1-2 inches across and has 6-8 bright yellow ray florets with yellow disc flowers in the center. Blooms Aug.-Oct.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate leaves are pinnately or bipinnately dissected, with each segment lanceolate and toothed or lobed on the margin. Undersides with hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- 4-angled purplish or mottled stems. May be smooth or sparsely pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
