Bidens polylepis, or Bearded Beggarticks, is a strong-growing annual that thrives in sunny, seasonally moist locations, often forming large colonies due to its prolific reseeding. Found in moist prairies, wet meadows, and prairie swales, it blooms from August to October, producing bright yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths. The plant is also a host for the Dainty Sulphur butterfly larvae, and its seeds are consumed by birds and rodents. Known for its drought tolerance, Bearded Beggarticks has a distinctive seed shape with barbed awns that can latch onto animals or humans, aiding in seed dispersal. Easy to grow in most soil types, it adds late-summer color to landscapes and is ideal for naturalized areas or moist habitats.