Bidens (Bidens ferulifolia)
Bidens Plant Features
Easy-care and long-blooming bidens is easy to recognize in garden beds and borders, as well as container gardens. A cheery annual native to areas of southwestern North America, it features golden-yellow daisy-shaped flowers that continue to appear for weeks. Plant breeders have been busy with this group of plants, and luckily for us, there are a wide variety of selections available. Many have a spreading or trailing form while others grow to be more mound shape. The size varies, too, with compact selections staying about 10 inches tall and wide and larger types spreading to 24 inches wide. Newer varieties also offer blooms in shades of yellow and orange, as well as white and pink.Because many bidens varieties have a trailing or spreading shape, they're often used in hanging baskets, window boxes, and container gardens as a spiller plant. Its blooms make an elegant contrast with rich purple flowers, such as annual lobelia, petunia, or verbena. They complement similarly hued annuals like petunia, calibrachoa, and coreopsis.
In garden beds and borders, you can do mass plantings of bidens for a bold effect. Or use it in the front of the border or as an edging plant to highlight your favorite plantings alongside other annuals or small shrubs. Because most bidens varieties are highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, the plant is perfect for butterfly and pollinator gardens.
Bidens Questions?
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Bidens Growing Instructions
Grow bidens in a spot with partial or full sun -- that gets at least 4 hours of direct sun per day. Bidens tolerates part shade, but in these conditions, you'll see fewer blooms and the plant tends to grow lankier and less attractive.A drought-tolerant annual, bidens isn't particularly thirsty once it's established. But, like most flowering annuals, it does best when watered regularly. Try to keep it from wilting for maximum flower production. In landscapes, it likes about an inch of water per week.
Bidens blooms best when fertilized regularly with a general-purpose fertilizer, especially when grown in container gardens. Alternatively, you can mix in some timed-release fertilizer at planting time; these types of products slowly release nutrients into the soil for you.
Learn more: Check out our Guide to Fertilizing.
Most bidens don't need pruning, but you can pinch or prune the plant back at any time if it starts to get too large or you would like it to grow more full and bushy. Deadheading, or removing faded flowers, isn't necessary.
Note: Bidens is not intended for human or animal consumption, but bees and butterflies love its pollen and nectar!
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Water
Medium water needs
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Light
Outside: Sun
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Colors
Pink
White
Yellow
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Special Features
Attracts butterflies
Groundcover
Super-easy to grow
Complement your Bidens
AngeloniaAngelonia is another heat- and drought-resistant flower you can enjoy all summer. Angelonia's spiky flowers are a fun contrast to mounding or spreading bidens.
Petunia
Deep purple petunias and golden-yellow bidens is a classic, can't-go-wrong combination for bold, beautiful planters.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis and bidens are closely related; plant them together for a big splash of color that's extra-attractive to butterflies.
