When does Bidens frondosa bloom?

Bidens frondosa typically flowers from July into October, with small yellow-orange composite blooms produced through the late summer and fall.

What pollinators visit Bidens frondosa?

Bees, butterflies, and beetles regularly visit the flowers of Bidens frondosa for nectar and pollen during its summer and fall bloom period.

How much water does Bidens frondosa need?

This plant grows best with medium to consistently moist soil and is commonly found along ditches, pond edges, and streambanks where water is plentiful.

How much sun does Bidens frondosa need?

Bidens frondosa grows most vigorously in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade conditions, especially where soil moisture is higher.

Is Beggar-ticks toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Beggar-ticks as toxic to livestock.

Is Beggar-ticks HOA-friendly?

Beggar-ticks takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Beggar-ticks

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Bidens frondosa

Last reviewed: August 2026

Bidens frondosa, or devil's beggarticks, is an annual forb that blooms yellow from July through October in wet meadows, ditches, and streambanks throughout much of the United States.

Toxicity unknown

Beggar-ticks (Bidens frondosa) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Beggar-ticks as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–48" H × 6"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 43 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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Beggar-ticks is a native annual wildflower that produces small yellow daisy-like flowers from summer through fall. The plant has an upright, branching habit and is known for its prolific blooming period that extends well into autumn.

Growing Beggar-ticks

Grow Beggar-ticks in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 48 inches tall and spread 6 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Beggar-ticks takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Very weedy appearance
Seeds stick aggressively to clothing and pets
Can spread readily and look unkempt

Wildlife value

Host plant for Bidens borer moth.

This plant is valuable for late-season pollinators including native bees, butterflies, and beetles when few other flowers are available. The seeds also provide food for birds in fall and winter.

Common questions

When does Bidens frondosa bloom?: Bidens frondosa typically flowers from July into October, with small yellow-orange composite blooms produced through the late summer and fall.
What pollinators visit Bidens frondosa?: Bees, butterflies, and beetles regularly visit the flowers of Bidens frondosa for nectar and pollen during its summer and fall bloom period.
How much water does Bidens frondosa need?: This plant grows best with medium to consistently moist soil and is commonly found along ditches, pond edges, and streambanks where water is plentiful.
How much sun does Bidens frondosa need?: Bidens frondosa grows most vigorously in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade conditions, especially where soil moisture is higher.
Is Beggar-ticks toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Beggar-ticks as toxic to livestock.
Is Beggar-ticks HOA-friendly?: Beggar-ticks takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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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