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Beck's Water-Marigold

Bidens beckii

Last reviewed: September 2026

Beck's Water-Marigold (Bidens beckii)
Photo: (c) Rob Foster, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Beck's Water-Marigold (Bidens beckii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–48" H × 6"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

CT, IA, ID, IL and 17 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainRidge and ValleyEastern Great Lakes Lowlands

Beck's water marigold is an aquatic or wetland perennial that produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers from July through September. This plant requires consistently wet conditions and is best suited for pond edges, rain gardens, or naturally soggy areas where few other plants will thrive.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Beck's Water-Marigold takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Requires specialized wet conditions unsuitable for typical landscaping
  • Annual nature means gaps in coverage
  • Can appear wild and unstructured

Wildlife value

The cheerful yellow blooms attract bees, butterflies, and beetles throughout the summer months. This plant provides important late-season nectar when many other flowers have finished blooming.

Common questions

How much sun does Beck's Water-Marigold need?
Beck's Water-Marigold grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Beck's Water-Marigold bloom?
Beck's Water-Marigold blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Beck's Water-Marigold native?
Beck's Water-Marigold (Bidens beckii) is native to CT, IA, ID, IL and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Beck's Water-Marigold attract?
Beck's Water-Marigold draws bees, butterflies, and beetles.
Is Beck's Water-Marigold HOA-friendly?
Beck's Water-Marigold takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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