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Cup Plant

Silphium perfoliatum

Opposite square-stemmed leaves fuse at the base to form natural cups that trap rainwater, creating drinking spots for birds and insects. Bright yellow daisies cap towering 6- to 8-foot stems from midsummer to fall. A bold prairie giant best suited for large gardens, moist meadows, or naturalized borders.

Family

Asteraceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

4–8 ft

Spacing

1–3 ft apart

Light

sun

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

July, August, September

Bloom colors

yellow

Wildlife value

butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators

Landscape uses

border, naturalizing, rain garden

Native states

AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, VA, WI, WV