The campfire has certainly gone through some beautiful transformation in the past three years. First there was Campfire Marshmallow in 2024 and next year it will be even hotter with Campfire Red Ember. Yes, I am talking about plants and particularly the genus Bidens.

Despite what seems to be a gazillion species of Bidens, you probably don’t know about the plant and if you do you most likely think they can’t grow where you live. There are several native to the United States. They are related to Coreopsis and have some “omg” common names like beggarticks, cobbler’s pegs and Spanish needles.

Though I took classes in graduate taxonomy, I learned a new word today that no doubt points back to those common names. The Bidens are known as zoochorous, meaning their seeds will stick to clothing and fur or feathers of animals and travel to new habitats.

The Bidens are looking indeed to be great choices for the landscape and mixed containers thanks largely to the Proven Winners Campfire series. Campfire Marshmallow with stunning white flowers and gold centers won awards like Perfect Score at University of Tennessee and Oklahoma State University. It also won an assortment of Top Performer Awards from University of Minnesota to University of Florida.

Scores haven’t come in from trials yet in 2025, but I can tell you Campfire Red Ember was bringing out the cameras at the Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Alabama. Campfire Red Ember is known botanically as Bidens ferulifolia and has its roots out west in Arizona. It will get 10 inches tall, perhaps a little taller in the south with a 24-inch spread. This means it should be a little shorter than Campfire Marshmallow but with a slightly larger spread.

Proven Winners call the color fiery red with slight orange and yellow eyes. That is certainly true, and I would add it seems to be growing. One of the Young’s Plant Farm combinations was award-winning.