Bidens trichosperma (Crowned Beggarticks)

Plant Info
Also known as: Northern Tickseed-sunflower, Tall Tickseed-sunflower, Tall Swamp Marigold
Genus:Bidens
Family:Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:annual
Origin:native
Habitat:sun; wet; swamps, marshes, along shores, wet fields
Bloom season:August - October
Plant height:1 to 5 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 7+petals Cluster type: panicle

[photo of flowers] Flowers are at the end of stems that branch off near the top of the plant. Individual flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across with 8 yellow petals (ray flowers) and a yellow to brownish button center about ½ inch across.

[photo of bracts] The bracts are green, straight, and narrow with blunt tips and are sparsely hairy along the edges. Between the bracts and petals is a layer of yellow sepals, wider and shorter than the bracts, tapering to a blunt point.

Leaves and stem: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: compound

[photo of leaves] Leaves are compound in usually 3 or 5 narrow segments, less often 7. Leaflets are to 4 inches long, ½ inch wide, pointed at the tip, and coarsely toothed to varying degrees. Leaflets may be further lobed with 1 or 2 narrow segments near the base. Attachment is opposite. The main stem is hairless.

Notes:

A similar species is Bearded Beggarticks (Bidens aristosa), which is a more southern species not found in Minnesota. There are some slight differences with the leaves, but it can be more easily distinguished by the flower bracts, which are very curly with fringed or bristly edges. Crowned Beggarticks formerly went by Latin name Bidens coronata.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park, Shoreview, MN. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Michael - Wabasha County
on: 2014-09-10 09:53:25

I see this blooming every late summer/fall in the backwaters off the Mississippi River.

Posted by: Barb - Blue Earth County
on: 2015-09-10 21:28:16

This flower is very prevalent along the open areas of the Sakatah Trail on the east side of Mankato.

Posted by: chuck - new hope
on: 2019-08-23 13:36:29

grew some from seed i collected. doing real well this year. in my back yard partially sunny rich soil good drainage. bees love them.

Posted by: Melissa Collins - Cokato, Wright County
on: 2019-09-16 10:07:20

I saw this growing in a shallow marsh 4 miles NW of Cokato, MN in a prairie restoration.

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