Horticulture/Bidens frondosa

Devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa var. frondosa1 eF.jpg Bidens frondosa Annual Adaptable, most frequent in wet soils Sticky seeds, spread by animals Spring Mid-autumn None Devil's beggartick (Bidens frondosa) is an annual herb in the family Asteraceae, native to North America. This plant is known by a variety of different names, including Bur Marigold, Devil's Bootjack, Devil's pitchfork, Pitchfork Weed, and Sticktight. The sticky seeds make this plant a nuisance for pet and livestock owners, and it is generally seen as a weed. Description It looks similar to a Dahlia plant, up to 2 m tall, usually with reddish stems. Its flowers are yellow, produced in early autumn, followed by numerous seeds with hooked barbs that attach onto passing animals' fur or clothing or sometimes even skin which allow the seeds to be dispersed widely. Ecology Uses During flowering, the plant is an autumn nectar source, though other plants should be used instead because of the seed problems. Control thumb|left|closeup of seeds This plant can be controlled easily by regular mowing, but can be allowed to grow during the summer as competition for other weeds and as a green manure. It should be pulled or cut as soon as it begins to flower, to avoid re-seeding. Pulls easily Materials are safe to compost so long as well-covered and if pulled before seeds are set. References Bidens frondosa Missouri Plants: Bidens frondosa Photographs from Bioimages 50%