Bidens ferulifolia Bee Happy Red ('Baleehedi') (Bee Happy Series)
bidens
Delivery options
- Standard £5.95
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil or general-purpose compost for containers
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to October
- Hardiness: half-hardy annual (will need protection from frost)
This vigorous bidens almost glows with its embers of golden yellow and amber-orange tips. ‘Bee Happy Red’ produces new flowers to grow over the top of used-up flower heads, so it always looks fresh and colourful. Excellent for attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to your pots and borders from summer through to the first frosts of autumn.
Pot up ‘Firelight’ and grow on in frost-free conditions (i.e. a greenhouse or bright windowsill away from central heating radiators) before planting once the risk of frost has gone. Pinch out the growing tips while the plants are still small to encourage more stems and create shapely, compact plants that are perfect for containers. Once the plants are well grown, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days (moving outside during the day) prior to planting in their final positions. regular deadheading will prolong the flowering season - as will feeding with a high potash fertiliser from late spring to midsummer.