Bidens, or BEGGAR'S TICKS, a member of the Compositae family, contains 270 species. Bidens attract many adult butterflies and hosts a few as well. When allowed to mature on the plant, the seeds are consumed by birds. Bidens prefer regular watering.

The fall flowering Bidens ferulifolia is quite commonly available for sale and can grow from seed. It is hardy in Zones 8-11, flowers in fall, and grows to a foot tall. It is treated as an annual in frosty Zones. It can be grown in a container and will attract honey bees.

This plant, as with others in the Compositae family, attracts a long list of butterflies to nectar on the blossoms.