# Spanish Needles (*bidens bipinnata*)

Spanish Needles are bright yellow flowers that can be found in fields and along roadsides! They are fun to observe because they attract butterflies and other pollinators.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas in warm climates.
- **Also known as:** Spanish Needle Flower

![Spanish Needles](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bidens_bipinnata_3_4x3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Dalgial, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bidens_bipinnata_3_4x3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Spanish Needles has slender stems and finely divided, fern-like leaves. Its small yellow flowers often lack noticeable petals, appearing as a cluster of disc florets. The distinguishing feature is its dark, barbed seeds, which resemble tiny needles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Bidens

## Interesting facts

- Its name comes from seeds that cling like tiny grappling hooks!
- Native Americans once used its roots to make a bright yellow dye!
- The tiny flowers provide nectar for many small, buzzing insects.
- This plant is a master of disguise, often mistaken for a weed.

## Special abilities

- **Hitchhiker Hero:** Spanish Needles seeds have barbs that help them stick to fur and clothes, allowing the plant to spread far and wide.
- **Soil Scavenger:** Spanish Needles can thrive in poor, disturbed soils, making it a pioneer in areas where other plants struggle.
- **Nature's Needlework:** The unique, barbed seeds are perfectly designed to cling tightly, ensuring successful dispersal by animals and people.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Eastern cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — Browses on young shoots and leaves.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Spanish Needles?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Spanish Needles?

30-150 cm

### How wide does Spanish Needles spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Spanish Needles?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Spanish Needles bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Spanish Needles edible?

Yes

### Is Spanish Needles toxic?

None

### What is Spanish Needles's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Martin State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/martin-state-forest) — Indiana, US · Forest
- [Newbern Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/newbern-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District
- [Lakewood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakewood-park) — Virginia, US · Park

[View all places to see Spanish Needles](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spanish-needles)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Spanish Needles: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spanish-needles)