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Bidens bipinnata - L.

Common Name Spanish Needles
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky woods, roadsides and waste places, often in sandy soils, Florida to Mexico, north to Massachusetts and New York[43].
Range E. Asia. Eastern N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Bidens bipinnata Spanish Needles


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial
Bidens bipinnata Spanish Needles
Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bidens bipinnata is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from September to October, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Leaves and young shoots - cooked or used as a flavouring[177, 207]. Used as a vegetable[218]. A tea is made from the flowering tops[207].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Emmenagogue  Styptic  Vermifuge

The root and seeds are popularly used as an emmenagogue and in the treatment of laryngeal and bronchial diseases[207]. A tea made from the leaves is vermifuge[222]. The leaves have been chewed as a treatment for sore throat[222]. The plant juice is styptic and has been used as ear drops[222]. An extract of the plant has bactericidal properties[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture-retentive soil in full sun[200]. A good bee plant[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring in situ and only just cover the seed.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Spanish needles.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Native to Asia and North America, and naturalized elsewhere.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Possible weedy in Nebraska and the Great Plains, USA.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bidens aureaArizona beggarticksPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHNM10 
Bidens bigeloviiBigelow's beggarticksPerennial0.8 0-0  LMHNM10 
Bidens biternata Annual0.0 -  LMHNM01 
Bidens frondosaBeggar Ticks, Devil's beggartickAnnual1.5 0-0  LMHNM121
Bidens parviflora Annual0.6 -  LMHNM11 
Bidens pilosaBeggar's Ticks, Blackjack, Hairy beggarticksAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHNM221
Bidens tripartitaBurr Marigold, Threelobe beggarticksAnnual0.6 5-9  LMHNMWe221

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Mary Zan Warren   Fri Jul 30 13:25:33 2004

I have this plant growing wild, coming up in my squash in one area. Where this plant is present in my squash I have NO squash bugs. In other squash garden areas without this plant, there ARE many squash bugs.

d_pfalzer   Tue Feb 20 2007

This plant grows wild in waste places through out the Tampa, Florida area. According to the Peterson Field Guide of Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs it is known not only as Spanish Needles, but also as Soapbush Needles. This second name makes me think that it must have an other use involving the making of soaps. I wonder what the details of that is. This plant grows so abundantly around here that one could easily harvest great quantities of it without disturbing the ecosystem.

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future   Tue Feb 20 2007

We have no records of this plant being used as a soap. There are three main ways in which a plant can be used to make soap:- 1. An oil obtained from the seed is used as an ingredient in making soap. 2. The plant is burnt to provide potash which is also an ingredient in making soap. 3. The plant contains saponins - naturally lathering substances that can be extracted by gently simmering the plant in water to make a safe, natural and gentle soap. As far as I know, the seeds are not a good source of oil. Therefore, if the plant has been used in making soap it is by method 2 or 3.

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