Smooth Beggarticks

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Bidens laevis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Bidens laevis is a wetland forb that grows in marshes, ditches, and pond margins across the eastern and southern United States, producing bright yellow flowers from June through November.

Toxicity unknown

Smooth Beggarticks (Bidens laevis) 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 Smooth Beggarticks as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 28 more states

Pollinators

butterflies, bees, nectar insects

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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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Piedmont Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Mississippi Alluvial Plain Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Smooth Beggarticks is a native annual wildflower that produces bright yellow daisy-like blooms from summer through late fall. This wetland plant thrives in consistently moist conditions and can spread to form colonies in favorable sites.

Growing Smooth Beggarticks

Grow Smooth Beggarticks in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Smooth Beggarticks is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.

Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.

Requires seasonal replanting
May have messy dieback

Wildlife value

The long blooming period provides nectar for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects from June through November. Seeds also provide food for birds and waterfowl.

Common questions

When does Bidens laevis bloom?: Smooth beggarticks generally flowers from June into November, with peak bloom in late summer and early fall in most of its range.
What growing conditions does smooth beggarticks need?: It does best in full sun with consistently wet to saturated soil, such as marsh edges, ditches, and shallow pond margins.
What pollinators visit Bidens laevis?: Its yellow flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other nectar-feeding insects during the summer and fall bloom period.
Is smooth beggarticks a good plant for wet or low areas in a garden?: Yes, it is well suited to rain gardens, pond edges, and other spots that stay consistently moist to wet, since it tolerates standing water for extended periods.
Is Smooth Beggarticks toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Smooth Beggarticks as toxic to livestock.
Is Smooth Beggarticks HOA-friendly?: Smooth Beggarticks is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

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

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.

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Ready to grow Smooth Beggarticks? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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Common questions

When does Bidens laevis bloom?

Smooth beggarticks generally flowers from June into November, with peak bloom in late summer and early fall in most of its range.

What growing conditions does smooth beggarticks need?

It does best in full sun with consistently wet to saturated soil, such as marsh edges, ditches, and shallow pond margins.

What pollinators visit Bidens laevis?

Its yellow flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other nectar-feeding insects during the summer and fall bloom period.

Is smooth beggarticks a good plant for wet or low areas in a garden?

Yes, it is well suited to rain gardens, pond edges, and other spots that stay consistently moist to wet, since it tolerates standing water for extended periods.

Is Smooth Beggarticks toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Smooth Beggarticks as toxic to livestock.

Is Smooth Beggarticks HOA-friendly?

Smooth Beggarticks is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

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

Common plant problems, and what to check first

See all plant problem guides