Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
Also listed as Resinocaulon perfoliatum, Silphium conjunctum
Also known as Cup Rosinweed, Cupleaf Rosinweed, Squarestem Rosinweed
Climate Match for your location
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A tall native wildflower with distinctive cup-shaped leaves that join at the stem and golden-yellow flowers. Attracts pollinators and adds architectural interest to garden borders.
Why grow it
Cup plant offers reliable mid-summer to fall bloom in a native species suited to most of eastern North America, making it useful for meadows and borders where adapted perennials are preferred. Unlike many tall yellow-flowered composites, its paired leaves fused around the stem provide distinctive structure and can trap water to benefit visiting insects. It tolerates clay and poor soils better than many ornamental alternatives and requires minimal fertilizer once established.
Watch out for
Cup plant performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can become leggy if grown in deep shade, so site placement affects long-term form. In very dry seasons or heavy clay without amendment, vigor may decline noticeably. Division or deadheading may be needed if volunteer seedlings appear in adjoining beds, as the plant self-seeds readily in favorable conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall native wildflower with distinctive cup-shaped leaves that join at the stem and golden-yellow flowers. Attracts pollinators and adds architectural interest to garden borders.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cup Plant grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Cup plant offers reliable mid-summer to fall bloom in a native species suited to most of eastern North America, making it useful for meadows and borders where adapted perennials are preferred. Unlike many tall yellow-flowered composites, its paired leaves fused around the stem provide distinctive structure and can trap water to benefit visiting insects. It tolerates clay and poor soils better than many ornamental alternatives and requires minimal fertilizer once established.
Watch out for
Cup plant performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can become leggy if grown in deep shade, so site placement affects long-term form. In very dry seasons or heavy clay without amendment, vigor may decline noticeably. Division or deadheading may be needed if volunteer seedlings appear in adjoining beds, as the plant self-seeds readily in favorable conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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