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Beggarticks

Bidens frondosa

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae (Daisy)
Also in this family:
Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Hawkbit, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Changing Michaelmas Daisy, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Groundsel, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Treasureflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White African Daisy, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Willdenow's Leopardsbane, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Annual or Perennial
Maximum Size:
180 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Riversides, wasteland, waterside.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, no petals
 
Flowers can be solitary or together in groups of 2 or 3. They are stalked and have a yellowish-orange central disc (up to 2cm wide). Around the central disc are the bracts which are yellowish-brown. Pollinated by bees and hoverflies.
Fruit:
Flat, dark brown or black seeds, ripening from August to October. The seeds have hooked hairs attached at one end.
Leaves:
The leaves are compound with 3 to 5, lance-shaped leaflets. Each leaflet is between 5 and 10cm long and has sharp teeth along its edges. The leaves are stalked. Very variable in height. Annual. Mainly encountered along canals and riversides, especially around London and the Midlands.
Other Names:
Beggar Ticks, Bur Marigold, Common Beggar-ticks, Devil's Beggarticks, Devil's Bootjack, Devil's-pitchfork, Leafy Beggarticks, Pitchfork Weed, Sticktights, Tickseed Sunflower.
Frequency (UK):
Unusual  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Bidens frondosa, also known as beggarticks or devil's beggarticks, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America and can be found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, meadows, and along roadsides. The plant has slender stems with small, green leaves and clusters of small, yellow flowers. It is known for its distinctive seed heads, which are made up of small, barbed seeds that can easily stick to clothing and animals. Beggarticks is sometimes used in herbal medicine, although more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness. It is considered an invasive species in some areas.

Blog

Beggarticks (Bidens frondosa) - A Wildflower Worth Discovering

Beggarticks, also known as Bidens frondosa, is a wildflower that is native to North America. This plant belongs to the sunflower family and is known for its yellow flowers that have distinctive black tips. Beggarticks is a tough and hardy plant that can grow in a variety of habitats, from meadows and pastures to marshes and swamps.

One of the most striking features of Beggarticks is its flowers. The yellow petals have distinctive black tips that make them easy to identify. The flowers are usually about 2 cm in diameter and grow on spikes that are up to 60 cm tall. In late summer and early fall, Beggarticks produces hundreds of seeds that are dispersed by the wind. These seeds are an important food source for many species of birds and small mammals.

In addition to its attractive flowers, Beggarticks is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. This plant can grow in soils that are moist or dry, and it can tolerate periods of drought as well as heavy rain. Beggarticks is also adaptable to different light conditions, making it a great choice for sunny or partially shaded areas.

If you're interested in growing Beggarticks in your own garden, it's important to keep in mind that this plant is considered invasive in some areas. Before planting, check with your local nursery or gardening club to see if Beggarticks is appropriate for your area. If you're allowed to grow this plant, be sure to give it plenty of space and keep it away from other plants that you don't want it to overtake.

In conclusion, Beggarticks is a beautiful and hardy wildflower that is worth discovering. With its yellow flowers and distinctive black tips, this plant is sure to add interest to any garden. If you're looking for a plant that is easy to grow and adaptable to a wide range of conditions, Beggarticks is definitely worth considering.

Another great aspect of Beggarticks is its medicinal properties. Native American tribes used the plant for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it was also used to treat wounds and skin conditions. Today, Beggarticks is still used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions, including wounds, skin rashes, and insect bites.

In addition to its medicinal properties, Beggarticks is also a valuable plant for wildlife. As mentioned earlier, the seeds produced by this plant are an important food source for many species of birds and small mammals. The flowers are also a source of nectar for bees and other pollinators, making Beggarticks an important plant for maintaining biodiversity in your local ecosystem.

If you're interested in incorporating Beggarticks into your garden, there are a few things to keep in mind. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. It is also important to note that Beggarticks can become invasive in some areas, so it is important to plant it in a location where it will not spread into natural habitats or other parts of your garden.

In conclusion, Beggarticks is a versatile and hardy plant that is well worth considering for your garden. With its attractive flowers, medicinal properties, and importance to wildlife, this wildflower is a great choice for anyone looking to add a touch of nature to their yard. So why not take a closer look at Beggarticks and see what this fascinating plant has to offer!


Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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