Spanish needles can reach a max of five feet tall
This pollinator friendly plant goes by many names. Common names include butterfly needles, shepherd’s needles, tickseed sunflowers, stick weed, pitchfork weed, and beggar-ticks. Although this plant may look pretty, many consider it a weed. It is an annual or short-lived perennial. Spanish needles generally grow to about one to three feet fall, but can reach a max of five feet fall. It is considered a fast grower. In fact, it can even regrow from stems.
With only one plant, Spanish needles can produce 6000 seeds! These are no ordinary seeds. These large black seeds have spurs on the end. These spurs allow for the seed to easily attach to anything including animals and people. The seeds are also able to disperse through wind and water. The seeds of Spanish needles can remain viable for up to five years.
I saw this honey bee foraging down in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. I was driving and had pulled over to shoot some photos. These flowers are a common sight along the side of the road. In Florida, you can find this flower year-round. The preferred habitat for Spanish needles is prairie or meadow.
There are 20,000 species of bees in the world (that we know about). It is challenging to estimate global bee populations, but I read there are at least two trillion bees worldwide. They are responsible for pollinating 80% of flowering plants. In the United States alone, honey bees pollinate $15 billion in food each year. There is an entire industry built around the bees. The bad news is that the bees are in decline due to pesticide use, habitat loss, bee diseases, and parasites. One of these devastating parasites are varroa mites, which are parasites that specifically target honey bees and transmit diseases throughout colonies.
People in South Africa eat the leaves of the Spanish needles plant when the plant is young. As the plant ages the leaves become worse tasting and might even upset one’s stomach. The plant has a similar nutrient profile to kale. It is high in fiber, proteins, carotenes, folate, and magnesium. People also eat the flowers of Spanish needles.
People in South Africa eat the leaves of the Spanish needles plant when the plant is young
Did you know?
- Scientists are researching whether Spanish needles might be useful in fighting colon cancer.
- Spanish needles are a member of the sunflower family!
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