Long-Bracted Tickseed Sunflower is a herbaceous annual or biennial herb with a deep taproot that may grow 2-4 feet in height. It can be found in all parts of NC but is sparse in the mountains. The leaves have a sharply toothed margin, are opposite and pinnately compound (sometimes bi-pinnately compound). Large, yellow flowers mature in late summer and continue into early fall. The herb produces a thin dry seed (achene) that often has barbs. It has been used mainly for landscape beautification but has a potential for use in cultivated garden situations, in naturalized prairie or meadow plantings, and along roadsides. It grows and flowers best in full sun, but is also adapted to partial shade. Plants are often found growing in the open shade along the edge of a woodland. It is adapted to most soil types, except for very sandy soils. Natural stands are generally found on moist sites such as in ditches, marshes, and wet meadows.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The alternate leaves are pinnately or bipinnately dissected, with each segment lanceolate and toothed or lobed on the margin. Undersides with hairs.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Numerous solitary flower heads held on long stalks. Each head is 1-2 inches across and has 6-8 bright yellow ray florets with yellow disc flowers in the center. Blooms Aug.-Oct.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Barbed achene
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
4-angled purplish or mottled stems. May be smooth or sparsely pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Eastern Canada to U.S.A
Distribution
AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Wildlife value
This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer. Nectar from flowers attracts butterflies and bees. Its seeds are eaten by songbirds and ducks. Members of the genus Bidens support the following specialized bee: Dieunomia (Dieunomia) heteropoda.