Cup plant
(Silphium perfoliatum)
Availability:
- Honey bees (flowers and “cups”),
- Native bees (flowers and “cups”),
- Butterflies (flowers and “cups”),
- Hummingbirds (flowers),
- Caterpillars (foliage),
- Songbirds (seeds and “cups”)
- 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.
Map credit: USDA Plants Database