A Guide to Growing Bidens Flowers
Get tips for planting, growing, and caring for this long-blooming summer flowerGoldilocks Rocks® bidens. Photo by: Proven Winners.
Are you in need of a colorful, easy-care plant that can take the summer heat? Then look no further than bidens. This charming member of the aster family (Asteraceae)—along with daisies, coreopsis, and sunflowers—will fill your garden with an abundance of cheerful daisy-like flowers right through the dog days of summer and well into fall. In addition to defying blazing heat, this sturdy plant can also handle occasional periods of drought, making it a great choice for drier climates.
Available in both trailing and upright forms, bidens work equally well in garden beds and container plantings. Use trailing varieties as spillers in hanging baskets, window boxes, and mixed container arrangements. Upright types are ideal for use in mass plantings and to brighten the front of the border. No matter where you plant them, their vibrantly colored, nectar-rich flowers are sure to attract a steady parade of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies.
On this page: Basics | Planting | Care | Pictures | Design Ideas | Frequently Asked Questions
On this page:
- BASICS
- PLANTING BIDENS
- BIDENS CARE AND MAINTENANCE
- BIDENS PICTURES
- DESIGN IDEAS
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BASICS
Botanical name:
Bidens ferulifolia
Common names:
Bidens, Apache beggartick, fern-leaved beggartick
Plant type:
Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Zones:
9-11
Native range:
Mexico and Southwest U.S.
Mature size:
8 to 12 inches tall, 10 to 24 inches wide
Exposure:
Full sun
Bloom time:
Late spring until the first frost
Flowers:
May be yellow, red, orange, gold, pink, white, or bi-colored, with prominent yellow or orange centers.
Foliage:
Triangular or lance-shaped green leaves have serrated margins, giving them a finely toothed or fern-like appearance.
Special attributes:
- Heat and drought tolerant
- Excellent for cutting
- Deer resistant
- Nontoxic to people and pets
PLANTING BIDENS
Pollinator planting with Goldilocks Rocks® bidens, Rockin'® Playin' The Blues® salvia, and Vermillionaire® cuphea. Photo by: Proven Winners
When to plant:
Plant outdoors in the spring after all risk of frost has passed.
Where to plant:
For optimal blooming, choose a location that receives ample sunlight, aiming for at least 6 hours daily. Although Bidens will tolerate part shade, they won’t bloom to their full potential and plants may become lanky. If your garden lacks a spot that receives full sun, consider planting bidens in a container that you can place on sunny deck or patio.
Soil:
Bidens prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter. If the soil is heavy or compacted, work some compost or other organic matter into the ground before planting to improve drainage and fertility.
Growing in containers:
When planting bidens in containers, use a free-draining soilless potting mix fortified with a slow-release fertilizer. Bidens do not tolerate waterlogged soil, so be sure to choose a container that has holes at the bottom for good drainage.
Growing from seed:
You can grow some types of Bidens from seed, with the exception of non-seeding sterile hybrids. To get a head start on the growing season, sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area, and then transplant the seedlings into your garden beds once the soil warms up in the spring. Space plants about 12 to 18 inches apart (depending on their size at maturity) to allow for adequate air circulation.
BIDENS CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Campfire® Marshmallow™ (Bidens hybrid).
Photo by: Proven Winners
Watering:
Although Bidens are drought-tolerant once established, they will do better with regular watering, especially container-grown plants. A helpful guideline is to give your plants about an inch of water per week, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
Fertilizing:
To keep your bidens full of blooms throughout the growing season, feed them every 4 to 6 weeks with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Another option is to work a slow-release granular fertilizer
Pruning and deadheading:
Most Bidens don't need pruning, but if your plants become leggy or threaten to outgrow their space, simply give them a light trim and they will soon be covered with a fresh flush of blooms. Because bidens flowers are self-cleaning, there is no need for deadheading.
Propagating:
From seed or stem cuttings.
Pests and problems:
Bidens are relatively pest and disease resistant, but they can be susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew. To discourage powdery mildew and other fungal diseases, maintain adequate spacing between plants to improve airflow.
BIDENS VARIETIES
DESIGN IDEAS
Edging plant, mass plantings, containers, hanging baskets, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, water-wise gardens.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is bidens a perennial or an annual?
Bidens can be grown as an annual or tender perennial, depending on the climate. In warmer regions (zones 9 and above), it is typically grown as a perennial, while in colder areas it is treated as an annual
How do you keep bidens blooming?
As long as you give Bidens full sun, sufficient water, and occasional feedings, they should bloom continuously from late spring through fall. Although plants will tolerate partial shade, they won’t bloom as prolifically.
Do hummingbirds like bidens?
Although hummingbirds usually flock to tubular-shaped blooms, bidens are an exception. The brightly colored flowers, which are rich in both nectar and pollen, are a real magnet for hummingbirds. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects are also attracted to the sweetly scented blooms.
Do I need to deadhead bidens?
Most newer varieties of Bidens are sterile, which means that instead of going to seed, they will continue to produce blooms all summer long, even without deadheading.
What are good companion plants for bidens flower?
Bidens’ vibrantly colored flowers pair well with many different sun-loving annuals including petunias, calibrachoa, verbena, scaevola, lantana, and cuphea .
Bidens with yellow blooms (such as Goldilocks Rocks®) are particularly striking when combined with purple, blue, or white flowers. Examples include trailing lobelia, angelonia, Diamond Frost® euphorbia, and Supertunia® Royal Velvet®. For more ideas, see these bidens container recipes from Proven Winners.
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