Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Spanish Needle

Bidens pilosa

Typically in season from January to December, peaking around September to March in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Spanish Needle (Bidens pilosa)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · iNaturalist

When Spanish Needle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak September to March. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Spanish Needle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Take Spanish Needle into the field

Open Spanish Needle in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Spanish Needle: common questions

When is Spanish Needle in season?

Spanish Needle is generally in season from January to December, with its peak around September to March in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Spanish Needle grow?

Spanish Needle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Spanish Needle safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits