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Entire-Leaf Rosinweed

Silphium integrifolium (SIL-phee-um in-teg-rih-FOE-lee-um)

Family: Asteraceae Native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Silphium is derived from the Green name silphion , referring to a plant native to northern Africa that bears resin. Integrifolium is a plant with entire or uncut leaves. Rosinweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the aster family found in central USA and parts of Canada. It grows along roadsides and railroad tracks, in fields, prairies, and pastures. The sunflower-like blooms occur in late summer to fall on up to 6-foot tall stems and attracts bees and butterflies. It typically grows to a height of 2' to 3', which is lower than other native silphiums, but can reach a height of up to 6' tall. Its strong stems help keep this plant erect, while others may flop over. As the foliage ascends the plant, they will rotate around the stem by 90 degrees. Side stems may form with small panicles of flowers. It is adaptable to most soil types if they are well-drained in full sun. Some light shade is tolerated. It is drought tolerant once established. Use this plant in naturalized or native areas. It may be too weedy to use in a small garden. Growing from a taproot and short rhizomes, it will form clumps but does not aggressive spread. Although not a favorite of small herbivores due to the height and coarseness of the leaves, larger herbivores will eat the stems, leaves and flowers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues. Occasional leaf spot, rust and downy mildew.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 59 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Dalea candida Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum Silphium perfoliatum

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Rough, stalkless, large paired leaves with or without teeth with resinous juices. Up to 8 inches long, lance to ovate shaped, hairs on both surfaces.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb; Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
2-3 inch wide sunflower-like flowers with 30-40 rays and many disc florets and subtended by bracts with reflexed tips. Blooms July to Sept.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit detail
The large, flat seeds can be spread by the wind.
Stem detail
Strong green stems are hairy. They may become glabrous as the plant ages.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central USA and into Canada
Distribution
AL , AR , CO , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , NE , NM , OK , SD , TN , TX , WI
Wildlife value
Attracts bees and butterflies. Songbird will eat the seeds. It has special value to Bumble Bees.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine

Uses (ethnobotany)

Native wildflower

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#perennial #showy #showy flowers #butterfly garden #clay soils tolerant #naturalizes #naturalized area #bee friendly #butterfly friendly #herbaceous #wind dispersed seeds #herbaceous perennial #dry soils tolerant #drought tolerant #insect resistant #disease resistant #bird friendly #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Resistant to
Diseases; Drought; Dry Soil; Insect Pests
Propagation
Seed
Fire risk
medium flammability

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.