[1] Bidens means two- toothed, describing the two projections found at the top of the seeds, and alba refers to the white ray florets.

[4] The vascular bundle provides nutrients throughout the plant, with the xylem transporting water from the roots and the phloem obtaining food from the leaves.

[2] Bidens alba leaves, which are simple on the opposite side and compound on the underneath, are 2–10 centimetres (1–4 in) long and 1.0–3.5 cm (3⁄8–1+3⁄8 in) wide.

[5] Colors of the flower-heads of Bidens alba vary depending on the subspecies; some B. alba have yellow, tubular central blossoms and others may have flower-heads with white or cream petals (1.5 cm or 5⁄8 in long); eventually they form black linear seeds, yielding approximately 1200 seeds per plant.

[2] Bidens alba is a fast-growing, fast-spreading weed due to its enormous number of seeds and the ability to re-grow from stems.

The most growth occurs in organic matter with loose soil;[1] however, they can also propagate well on sand and lime-rocks in non-irrigated habitats.