Cup Plant

Cup plant
(Silphium perfoliatum)

Height:

• 4 to 10 feet

Bloom:

• July to September

Classification:

• Native
• Perennial

Sun:

• Full sun

Soil moisture:

• Medium to moist

Provides food for:

• Honey bees (flowers)
• Native bees (flowers)
• Butterflies (flowers),
• Hummingbirds (flowers, insects),
• Caterpillars (foliage),
• Songbirds (seeds, caterpillars and other insects)

Notes:

• Tends to grow taller than “normal” in garden soil.
• May flop over if not staked.
• Base of leaves wrap tightly around stem to form “cup.” Birds, frogs, pollinators, etc. will take advantage of water that collects in cups.
• Spreads aggressively partly due to birds moving the seeds. Not a good choice for small spaces where you don’t want the plants to spread.

Native Range:

Relevant Backyard Ecology Resources:

Cup plant

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