Bidens : flower of the sun
Bidens is a small plant that flowers a lot. In warm places, it lives for many years. But in cooler areas, it dies in winter, so it is grown for only one season. It can grow in gardens or in pots on balconies. Its bright yellow flowers have earned it nicknames like "sun flower" and "golden rain."
The Bidens ferulifolia is prettier than the wild Bidens tripartita. The wild type grows in Russia and is used in medicine. Both are in the Asteraceae family. The name "Bidens" means "two teeth" in Latin.
The plant's seeds stick to fur or clothes like teeth. This helps them spread to new places. Many Bidens species have this feature. In Russia, they were called names like "bidentate" and "dog lover" for this reason.
Bidens has been grown as a garden plant since 1992. Its simple yellow flowers became very popular. Plant experts have created many new types. In cool places, the plant only lives a year. But it grows fast and becomes a nice, full bush. It provides beauty all through the warm months.
