White beggarticks (Bidens alba) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,390 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph White beggarticks: observations by month (U.S.)
About White beggarticks
Bidens alba, which belongs to the family Asteraceae, is most commonly known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles, or butterfly needles. Bidens means two- toothed, describing the two projections found at the top of the seeds, and alba refers to the white ray florets. This plant is found in tropical and subtropical regions of North America, Asia, South America, and Africa, situated in gardens, road sides, farm fields and disturbed sites. B. alba is an annual or...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
White beggarticks by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2,227 | January | Aug–May |
| Mississippi | 277 | September | Sep–Jan |
| Texas | 264 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 181 | September | Aug–Dec |
| Alabama | 160 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Louisiana | 126 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Hawaii | 49 | January | Dec–Apr |
| South Carolina | 36 | September | Sep–Dec |
| Indiana | 33 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Tennessee | 13 | October | Sep–Nov |
| North Carolina | 7 | November | Oct–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph White beggarticks?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from August to June.
Where is White beggarticks most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Mississippi, Texas.