This summer the plant trials have been riotous in their displays of colors in the recipe section. One that caught my eye this year was Merry Go Round, which was full of colors from the hot side of the color wheel. One featured plant was Campfire Red Ember.

Red Ember is one of the three in the Campfire series. Campfire Marshmallow, Campfire Flame and Campfire Red Ember. They are known botanically as Bidens and are native to Mexico and the Southwest.

Your first thought might be they are named for Joe and Jill. But they are not political in the least. Bidens means two toothed, a description of the seeds.

The common name Apache Beggarticks also leads to some misconceptions. You will not get or attract ticks if you grow these plants. This is again a reference to the seeds, which can attach themselves to you, pets and other animals, like ticks. This process the Bidens use is called zoochorous, meaning their seeds will stick to clothing and fur or feathers of animals and travel to new habitats.

Dollars to donuts you’ve never gone to the garden center and asked for a flat of Apache Beggarticks. On the other hand, you may just want to ask them to get you Campfire Red Ember ( Bidens fernulifolia ) next season. Just tell them it’s got native DNA from out west but won Perfect Score at Oklahoma State and Best of Breed at North Carolina State JC Raulston Arboretum. All three of the Campfire series have won awards, including a fourth Proven Winners variety called Goldilocks Rocks.

The trials over the last few years have shown us how wonderful the Bidens are in mixed container designs. Golden Gala was another example featuring Goldilocks Rocks, Luscious Basket Tangeglow lantana and Superbells Double Redstone calibrachoa.

One recipe perfect for the America 250 celebration features the colors of Old Glory with Campfire Marshmallow, Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine and Supertunia Really Red petunias.

Campfire Marshmallow with pristine white daisy-like flowers is the tallest in the series reaching 14 inches tall with a spread of 20 inches. Campfire Flame with reddish orange petals radiating from golden yellow centers reaches 8 to 14 inches tall with a spread of 10 to 16 inches.

Campfire Red Ember reaches 10 inches in height with the widest spread of 16 to 24 inches. It is also the newest making its debut this year. It is a fiery red with slight golden yellow eye.

Goldilocks Rocks is golden yellow and as such shows the Bidens' relationship to coreopsis. It reaches 8 to 14 inches tall with a spread of 10 to 24 inches.

Finding success growing these Bidens is easy. These are annuals; give them fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of sun and you are on your way to green thumb. No deadheading is required.

Use controlled release granular fertilizer at planting and that will keep you in flowers. If growing in containers with daily watering, use a diluted water-soluble mix fertilizer every two to three weeks or use controlled release granules per your formula recommendation.

Most likely you are new to Campfire Red Ember, Marshmallow and Flame. Put these on your must-have list along with Goldilocks Rocks and your mixed containers and wildflower meadows will come alive.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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