Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Cup plant is a strong supporter of prairie biodiversity. Its water-holding leaf cups and seeds draw in birds, 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 usually grows six to eight feet tall, bearing numerous two to three-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, well‑drained soils along prairie edges, stream corridors, and floodplain openings, doing best in full sun but tolerating partial shade.
Sources:
Prairie Moon Nursery — Silphium perfoliatum
USDA PLANTS Database — Silphium perfoliatum
Flora of North America — Silphium perfoliatum
Illinois Wildflowers — Cup Plant
Wisconsin State Herbarium — Silphium perfoliatum