Cup Plant - Silphium perfoliatum

Silphium perfoliatum, also known as Cup Plant, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan. It can reach 8 feet tall and flowers from July to September with a yellow, sunflower-like blossom. This, along with Prairie Dock, Rosin Weed, and Compass Plant, are members of the genus Silphium. They are all tall plants that reach for the sun. Pair them with Big Bluestem Grass, Indian Grass, Tall Coreopsis, Prairie Blazingstar, and Ironweed to create a little slice of tallgrass prairie. Buffalo optional.
 
Cup Plant prefers full sun and moist loam or clay, but will tolerate part sun and medium-dry to wet soil, growing in muck, clay or loam. Can be an enthusiastic spreader under ideal conditions but less tall and less agressive in dryer soils. These are great plants for a bird garden, adding room to perch, large fall seeds, and abundant caterpillar real-estate for feeding nestlings. They also come with a built in bird-waterer. The name Cup Plant applies because the bases of the leaf pairs are fused together, creating a cup that catches rain water. Cup Plant is also attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, who are drawn to the profuse clusters of sizable yellow flowers.