Rosinweed
Silphium integrifolium
Photo by Sally and Andy Wasowski, courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Summary
A member of the Asteraceae family, these statuesque beauties boast bright yellow blooms in late summer. Their resinous juices inspired the genus name Silphium, which is derived from the Greek word ‘silphion’. This was a North African plant with a similarly resinous juice used for medicinal purposes, and was so prized that the plant appeared on ancient Greek coins. Juices aside, an easy way to identify silphium is by its leaves: Rub one between your fingers, and you’ll immediately notice the unmistakable, sandpapery feel.
Silphium grows easily from seed, and is at home in a wide variety of soils, even difficult clay soil. At the SBG, silphium is easily found growing between the Monarch Waystation and Serenity Space.
More Details
FAMILY
Asteraceae
BLOOM TIME
July-August
FLOWER
Yellow
MATURE SIZE
5-6 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Sun
SOIL CONDITIONS
Average to Dry
NATIVE STATUS
Native to US: midwest and prairies
Ecosystem Connections
Butterflies, bees, and many other insects are attracted to the flowers, and a variety of other insects deposit eggs on or in the plants. Their developing larvae eat the leaves or bore into the stalks. The presence of herbivores, pollinators, and nectar eaters attract insect predators such as crab spiders, parasitic wasps and robber flies, creating a micro habitat right on the plant. Birds such as goldfinches love the seeds that are produced by rosinweed.