Bidens vulgata
Big devils beggartick
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Bidens vulgata (Big devils beggartick) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key features are pinnate leaves, 4-angled stems, and very long outer bracts.
Big devils beggartick is a naturalized annual found in northern coastal California and the Sacramento Valley in freshwater wetlands at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from September to October, this plant produces yellow ray flowers 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long with yellow disk flowers in radiate heads. Growing with erect, 4-angled stems 30 to 150 centimeters tall that are slightly puberulent, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its pinnate leaves have 2 to 8 centimeter long lanceolate leaflets with sharp-pointed tips and serrated edges. The fruit is a 6 to 12 millimeter long wedge-shaped seed with stiff, ascending marginal hairs that help in dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species. Key features are pinnate leaves, 4-angled stems, and very long outer bracts.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Freshwater wetlands
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: to Washington, native to eastern North America
Bloom period
Bidens vulgata blooms Sep-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Tagetes: Tagetes has strongly scented gland-dotted leaves; Bidens lacks strong scent and glands.; vs Dahlia: Dahlia has showy ray flowers and tuberous roots; Bidens often lacks rays and has fibrous roots.; vs Arnica: Arnica has opposite leaves throughout and mountain habitat; Bidens has mostly alternate leaves in wetlands.; vs Cosmos: Cosmos has finely dissected feathery leaves; Bidens has broader, less divided leaves.; vs Helianthus: Helianthus has rough sandpapery leaves and unbarbed pappus; Bidens has barbed stick-tight seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bidens vulgata native to California?
No. Bidens vulgata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bidens vulgata bloom?
Bidens vulgata blooms Sep-Oct.
What plant family does Bidens vulgata belong to?
Bidens vulgata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Bidens.
What habitat does Bidens vulgata grow in?
Bidens vulgata grows in Uncommon. Freshwater wetlands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Bidens cernua — Nodding bur-marigold
- Bidens frondosa — Sticktight
- Bidens laevis — Bur-marigold
- Bidens pilosa — Common beggar-ticks
- Bidens sp.
- Bidens tripartita — Threelobe beggarticks
- Blennosperma bakeri — Sonoma sunshine
- Blennosperma nanum — Common stickyseed
- Blennosperma nanum var. nanum — Common blennosperma
- Blennosperma nanum var. robustum — Point reyes blennosperma
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.