From September to November, much of the Ethiopian plateau and many river valleys, hills, and mountain slopes in Ethiopia are covered by yellow-flowered Bidens species, including B. macroptera. In some locations, these flowers grow in masses so dense that they resemble cultivated fields. In Ethiopia, yellow is a symbol of peace, hope, and love . Yellow Bidens are often displayed to signify the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry and sunny season and, more specifically, the start of the Ethiopian New Year, which usually falls on September 11th on the Gregorian calendar.