Goldmarie, or Bidens, is a particularly long-flowering ornamental plant for gardens and balconies. We introduce the genus Bidens and give tips on planting and care.
Bidens (Bidens) produce insect-friendly flowers all summer long and are therefore visited by many bees. We give tips on planting and caring for the pretty summer flower.
Goldmarie: characteristics and origin
Goldmarie, also called bidens or two-toothed, belongs to the daisy family of plants (Asteraceae) and is represented worldwide with more than 200 species. A total of five species occur in Germany, two of which are neophytes. The large genus Bidens contains annual and perennial herbaceous plants with a growth height of between 10 and 150 cm.
We are particularly familiar with the Mexican Goldmarie (Bidens ferulifolia) with a growth height of between 15 and 40 cm as an ornamental summer flower for balconies and terraces. The leaves of the two-toothed are arranged oppositely on the upright to overhanging shoots and are broadly ovate to lanceolate in shape, with a simple to divided leaf blade. Biden blooms between May and October, with numerous flower heads forming at each end of the stem. The star-shaped flower, typical of composite plants, consists of a center of numerous small tubular flowers and a ring of mostly five to seven, yellow, white, orange to red or pink colored, wide ray florets. In some Bidens species, however, the decorative flower wreath is missing. After pollination, oblong seeds with a dark skin form, the so-called achene fruits. They have an appendage for spreading, the pappus, which gave the bidentate its name. It usually consists of two bristle-like teeth with small hooks, which hook into the animal's fur on contact and thus transport the seed over long distances.
Are Bidens bee friendly? The bidens are one of the most bee friendlyflowers as it offers both nectar and pollen and has a slightly sweet scent. Various types of bees and bumblebees like to visit the flowers.
The most beautiful Bidens varieties and species
Wild in this country are tripartite bidens (Bidens triplinervia), pinnate bidens (Bidens bipinnata), nodding bidens ( Bidens cernua), black-fruited bidens (Bidens frondosa) and the fused bidens (Bidens connata). Only varieties of the Goldmarie and hybrid varieties are actually offered as ornamental summer bloomers. We give an overview of the most beautiful Bidens varieties for the garden and balcony.
- 'BeeDance': One of the best-known two-toothed varieties, which was voted balcony plant of the year in Bavaria in 2016. The beedance flower convinces with its long flowering period from June to October and the ornamental, orange-yellow flowers.
- 'Bee Happy': Attractive variety with orange petals that lighten to golden yellow in the middle. 'Bee Happy' reaches a height of 35 cm and flowers between May and October.
- 'Blazing Glory': Bicolor variety with sunny yellow petals that turn dark orange towards the tip. The plants reach a height of 25 - 30 cm.
- 'Cupcake Banana Cream': Bidens hybrid with creamy yellow petals that are slightly darker in the sun yellow center. The variety stays short and reaches a height of 15 - 25 cm.
- ‘Golden Empire‘: Two-toothed with pure golden-yellow flowers and a growth height of up to 40 cm. The Goldmarie variety blooms between May and October.
- 'Pretty in Pink': Pale pink Bidens variety with dark pink stripes and a yellow center. This extremely rare coloration of the two-toothed plants can be seen between June and October on plants that are 35 cm tall.
- 'Taka Tuka': The colorful variety series of Bidens ferulifolia 'Taka Tuka' is characterized by a low, wide growth up to 35 cm height and width. There are orange, white, yellow and red cultivars sold as 'Taka Tuka' bidens, which produce a profuse carpet of flowers throughout the summer.
- 'White Delight': White bidens with arching habit and 25 cm in height. The profusely flowering variety with creamy white ray florets is well suited for hanging baskets.
Planting Bidens: Location and Procedure
The optimal location for Bidens is warm and sunny on fresh, never completely drying out and nutrient-rich soil. Partial shade is tolerated, but there are usually fewer flowers. Planting outdoors starts in mid-May after the ice saints when the last late frosts have subsided. The planting distance to other flowers should be about 25 to 40 cm, so that the two-tooth can spread well.
Planting in beds is just as possible as cultivation in pots and planters. The Goldmarie is one of the most popular summer flowers for balcony boxes, hanging baskets, planters and troughs, as it takes up little root space, grows slightly overhanging and blooms profusely at the same time. Repotting into a larger vessel is definitely necessary. Because purchased specimens have usually already completely rooted the existing pot.
Since the Bidens does not tolerate waterlogging, every planter should have good water drainage. For planting the Goldmarie, we recommend using a nutrient-rich potting soil, such as our Plantura organic potting soil. The completely peat-free substrate is pre-fertilized and thus has a small supply of nutrients, which supplies the two-toothed plants in the first time after potting. The high compost content of our soil also makes it possible to store moisture effectively and release it to the plant roots when needed.
The Goldmarie is often combined with other summer flowering plants in larger planters or bowls. Combinations with white, violet or blue flowering species are particularly pretty, such as Loyal to Man (Lobelia erinus), Elfenspiegel (Nemesia), Scented Stone Rich ( Lobularia), geraniums (Pelargonium) or sage species (Salvia).
Care of Goldmarie
Caring for Bidens is quite easy. Faded blooms are shed by the modern strains themselves, so no trimming is required. As with many annual summer flowers, regular water and fertilizer are the most important care measures. Since the two-toothed plant always needs slightly moist substrates that must never dry out completely, it should be watered extensively early in the morning, especially on hot summer days. Since the Goldmarie numerous new ones throughout the summerforms shoots and flowers, the need for nutrients is also increased. Between June and September, an organic liquid fertilizer, such as our Plantura Organic Flower & Balcony Fertilizer, supplies the bee-friendly Bidens with all the necessary nutrients. It is simply added to the irrigation water once a week and thus reaches the plant roots directly when watering.
Is two teeth hardy?
The Bidens planted in our garden as a summer bloomer is not hardy, since the varieties are mainly descended from the Goldmarie native to Mexico. Even light frosts can severely damage the plant and cause it to die. Theoretically, overwintering is possible, but many summer bloomers survive the winter quarters poorly and suffer from fungal and pest infestation. Propagating new from seed in early spring or buying a fresh bulb is more worthwhile than trying to successfully overwinter the old plant. Because it usually does worse in terms of flowering and vigour.
Effect as a medicinal plant
In earlier times, the three-part two-toothed plant native to us was used as a medicinal plant in folk medicine. The leaves, but also parts of the entire plant, are harvested at the time of flowering and gently dried. This should be done in an airy, warm place without direct sunlight in order to preserve as many of the ingredients as possible, such as essential oils, bitter substances and tannins. The dried two-toothed herb is infused with hot water and prepared as a tea or extract. Used internally, the diuretic herb develops its effect as a diuretic and to prevent kidney and gallstones. As a sitz bath or in moist compresses, Zweizahn works against hemorrhoids and improves wound healing. The golden bidens (Bidens aurea) is also considered an aromatic tea plant.
People with a known allergy to daisy family should, however, refrain from using buckhorn as a medicinal plant.
Is Bidens poisonous?
The two-tooth is not poisonous, neither for humans nor animals. Sensitive people can rarely experience allergic skin irritation when they come into contact with the plant. It is therefore advisable to wear gloves when cutting or potting the buckhorn.
The snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is another free-flowering summer plant that attracts bumblebees in particular with its unusually shaped flowers. We give tips on culture,Care and propagation of snapdragons.