Urban’s Beggartick: A Rare Puerto Rican Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re passionate about native plants and happen to be gardening in Puerto Rico, you might be intrigued by Urban’s beggartick (Bidens reptans var. urbanii). This perennial climbing plant is one of those special native species that truly belongs to its island home, but finding information—let alone the plant itself—can be quite the adventure.
What Makes Urban’s Beggartick Special?
Urban’s beggartick is a variety of Bidens reptans that’s found exclusively in Puerto Rico. As a perennial plant, it offers the advantage of coming back year after year once established, which is always a win in my book! This climbing beauty has relatively long stems that can be either woody or herbaceous, giving it the flexibility to weave through your garden in interesting ways.
You might also see this plant listed under its scientific synonym, Bidens urbanii Greenm., but don’t let that confuse you—it’s the same wonderful native species.
Where Does It Call Home?
This particular variety of beggartick is endemic to Puerto Rico, meaning you won’t find it naturally occurring anywhere else in the world. It’s part of Puerto Rico’s unique botanical heritage, making it extra special for local gardeners who want to celebrate their island’s natural flora.
Should You Grow Urban’s Beggartick?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While Urban’s beggartick sounds like a fantastic addition to any Puerto Rican native plant garden, there’s limited information available about its cultivation requirements, availability, and even its current conservation status. This suggests it might be quite rare or simply not commonly grown in cultivation.
The Reality Check
As much as I’d love to give you detailed growing instructions for this native climber, the truth is that Urban’s beggartick appears to be one of those plants that’s more of a botanical treasure than a garden center regular. The lack of widely available growing information suggests that:
- It may be difficult to source from nurseries
- Its specific growing requirements aren’t well-documented
- It might have a limited natural range even within Puerto Rico
What This Means for Gardeners
If you’re determined to grow native Puerto Rican plants (and I applaud that goal!), you might want to start with better-documented native species while keeping an eye out for Urban’s beggartick. Sometimes the rarest natives require patience and connections with botanical gardens, native plant societies, or conservation groups.
For those interested in native Bidens species that might be easier to grow, consider researching other members of the Bidens family that are native to Puerto Rico and more readily available in cultivation.
Supporting Native Plant Conservation
Even if you can’t grow Urban’s beggartick in your own garden right now, you can still support native plant conservation in Puerto Rico by:
- Choosing other native plants for your landscape
- Supporting local botanical gardens and conservation efforts
- Learning about and sharing information about Puerto Rico’s unique native flora
- Connecting with local native plant societies
Sometimes the plants we can’t grow teach us just as much as the ones we can. Urban’s beggartick reminds us that our islands harbor botanical treasures that deserve our respect and protection, even if we’re still learning how to invite them into our gardens.
