Spanish Needles (Bidens pilosa)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Plant Height:	1-4 feet
Plant Spread:	usually 8-12 inches, but tall plants can be 2-3 feet
Leaves:	Evergreen Semi-evergreen Deciduous Other: dependent on zone it's growing in
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	White
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall Fall Late fall or early winter
Suitable Locations:	Xeriscapic
Uses:	Will Naturalize Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies
Propagation: Seeds:	Sow in situ
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Tip Layering
Pollinators:	Hoverflies Bees
Containers:	Suitable in 1 gallon Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Spanish Needles
Romerillo
Shepherd's Needles
Common Beggarticks
Butterfly Needles
Pitchfork Weed

Photo Gallery

Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-23

Uploaded by Tom_F_GA

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-05
Wildflower growing in my meadow; blooms in autumn

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-04-26

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-06

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-09-29

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-09-23

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by poisondartfrog

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Sao Vicente - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-10

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2016-09-27
#Pollination

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2016-05-18

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: zone 8/9 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2011-12-21

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Dainty Sulphur butterfly. This is their host plant but also serv

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Date: 2017-11-19

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-09-27
Growing in front of my house between plumbago and porterweed.

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Marianna, Florida panhandle
Date: 2017-05-09

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Location: Marianna, Florida panhandle
Date: 2017-05-10

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2017-04-14

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: zone 8/9 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2011-12-21
underside of leaves

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

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Comments:

Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Apr 27, 2014 11:36 AM concerning plant:

Bidens pilosa is a perennial that grows everywhere here in Florida. It's a profuse re-seeder and I find it popping up in my flower beds every year. To most gardeners this plant is considered a weed to be immediately removed while others consider it a beautiful wildflower that attracts many butterflies and bees to the garden. The seeds resemble black needles with barbed hooks at the ends. Seeds are dispersed by the wind as well as by attaching themselves to clothing or fur as people and animals brush against them. Bidens pilosa produces thousands of seeds that remain viable for up to 5 years so if you don't want a mass of these plants in your garden it's best to dig them out before they set seed.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Oct 20, 2011 5:50 PM concerning plant:

Honey bees get nectar from this plant

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Bidens Spanish Needles (Bidens pilosa)

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Spanish Needles (Bidens pilosa)