Spanish Needles
By LYNN ARTZ and JACK COETZEE
Spanish needles (Bidens alba) is a pollinator powerhouse for bees and butterflies, but many consider it a weed. This long-blooming wildflower is a vital nectar source for pollinators in Florida. It feeds dainty sulphur caterpillars. Small birds eat the seeds. The white-and-yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom all year on 1-4’ tall plants. However, the plants produce thousands of “hitchhiker” seeds that attach to clothing and fur. Also called beggar ticks, this aster family plant is likely to appear in your yard whether you want it or not. Gardeners who appreciate its value limit its spread by pulling up seedlings and removing spent flowers before they go to seed. Bidens alba was never planted at Sopchoppy Depot Park but is allowed to grow behind the meadow due to its immense importance to bees and butterflies.