Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Cup plant is a powerhouse of prairie biodiversity. Its water-holding leaf cups offer a rare resource for birds and insects during dry spells, while its abundant nectar and pollen support a wide array of native bees, butterflies, and beetles. The plant’s sturdy stems and late-season blooms provide critical structure and forage in restored prairies, wetlands, and riparian buffers. As a deep-rooted perennial, it also contributes to soil stabilization and carbon sequestration, making it a valuable ally in ecological restoration and climate resilience.
Cup plant is a native of eastern North America, including Wisconsin. It can grow up to nine feet tall, bearing numerous three to four-inch, yellow flowers. Each flower head has 20 to 30 yellow rays and darker yellow disks. Leaves often more than ten inches long are joined at the stem to form a small cup. Cup plant thrives in moist, sunny habitats like floodplain woods and prairie edges, in rich, loamy soils. (SF)