Family:     Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Duration:  Perennial

Height:     40-200 cm (1.5-6.5 ft)

Blooming: July-Sept.

 

Rosinweed

Silphium integrifolium  Michx.

Stem: slightly squared sometimes covered with shore hairs.​

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Flowers: large yellow flower-heads up to 5-8 cm (2-3 in) in diameter.

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Leaves: The leaves are opposite and sessile (attached directly to stem) with blades up to 23 cm (9 in) long. The leaves are covered in small, stiff hairs.

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Sun:  Full to part sun

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INPAWS Native Communities:  Prairie grassland (sun)

SOURCES & FURTHER RESOURCES:

Bonap map - Silphium

Flora of North America - Silphium integrifolium

Illinois Wildflowers - Rosinweed

Michigan Flora - Silphium integrifolium

Comments:  Rosinweed contains a resin that Native Americans used for chewing gum.  This is where the common name has come from.  Unlike compass plant (S. laciniatum)  and prairie dock (S. terebinthinaceum), the leaves of rosinweed are oppositely arranged.  It differs from rosinweed (S. perfoliatum) with the former fully clasping around definite four sided stems whereas rosinweed slightly holds on to a round stem.

 

Etymology: The genus, Silphium, comes from the Greek name for a mythic resinous plant called Silphion.  The specific epithet, integrifolium, comes from two Latin words, integer meaning "entire", and -folium meaning "foliage or leaves". 

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Butterfly/moth host plant: Silphium borer moth (Tebenna silphiella)

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all photos by Nathanael Pilla

Landscape: A smaller option if you wanted a silphium.  It tolerates dry soil and a little shade, but prefers and will grow great in full sun.