Wildflower Spot – August 2017

John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society

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Bidens bipinnata common along roadsides or as a weed in cul Past-president of the John Clayton tivated fields. Some nurseries offer seeds and SpanishChapter, VNPS Needles seedlings of other members of this genus. By Helen Hamilton, - The common name comes from the striking This aster has both ray and disk flowers that arrangement of long, slender, needle-like dry attract bees, flies, and the cabbage white butter latefly. Bloomingin the season. from August through October, the nectar and pollen feeds insects that are active fruits in round seed heads. The flower heads - edare many yellow, times but small,and sit ½ opposite inch across, each withother only on a few rays. Bright green leaves are fern-like, divid Native Americans found uses for this plant. The Cherokee chewed the leaves for sore throat and the stem. These are weedy plants growing 1-4 Theused genus a leaf nametea to Bidensexpel worms. feet high, with strongly veined, square stems. conditions. While it likes a fertile, loamy soil, means “two teeth,” The size of the plant depends on its growing referring to the barbed points on the fruits anotherthat will commonstick into name. anything v passing by, fur of theresomewhat is dappled moist, sunlight this plant – it can adapt to a wide animals and clothing of people. “Sticktights” is range of environmental conditions, as long as wilts in full sun. An annual, reseedingblooming foritself. only one season, Spanish Needles spreads by - countyNative toin southeasternthe state of Virginia. Unit ed States, it grows in every Bidens Other members of the genus prefer wetter habitats, needle-like.and the leaves This and is flowers not a plant are usuallydifferent, sold the in fruits nurseries broad, for not the home garden, but it can be

Photo: Spanish Needles (Bidens pinnata . ) taken by Helen Hamilton For more information about native plants visit www.vnps.org