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Prairie Dock

Silphium terebinthinaceum

Enormous sandpaper-textured spade-shaped basal leaves anchor a nearly leafless flower stalk that towers 6–10 ft. Deep taproot makes it drought-proof but resentful of transplanting.

Family

Asteraceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

3–10 ft

Spacing

1–3 ft apart

Light

sun

Soil moisture

moist, wet

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

July, August, September

Bloom colors

yellow

Wildlife value

pollinators, songbirds

Landscape uses

border, naturalizing

Native states

AL, AR, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, VA, WI