Ohio Native Plant Natural Range
To view the natural range of Silphium perfoliatum visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Cultivation Information Cup Plant
Height - 6 to 7 ftFlower Color - YellowBlooms - July - SeptSun - SunPerennial Hardy Zone - 4 to 8Soil - Moist to wetpH - 6.1 to 7.4
Natural Fence - A mature grove of Cup Plants are perfect native plants for "green" privacy fences
Family - Asteraceae
Natural Fence - A mature grove of Cup Plants are perfect native plants for "green" privacy fences
Family - Asteraceae
Wildlife Significance Cup Plant
Host Plant - Silphium Moth
Water - Perfoliate leaves hold water for a wide variety of wildlife
Pollen - bumblebees, green sweat bees, sweat bees, long horned bees and leafcutter bees
Nectar - Wasps, bee flies, various short-tongued bees along with butterflies and skippers
Aphid Predators - Both Lady beetles and Brown Lacewing inhabit the leaves of the Cup Plant, both devour pesky aphids.
Katydids - Camouflage is the name of their game, but take a closer look, and you might discover a katydid munching on the Cup Plant's thick green leaves
Seed - Birds - Chickadees, Goldfinches, sparrows along with a host of other songbirds love Cup Plant seeds!
For more details, visit the Illinois Wildflower website.
Pollen - bumblebees, green sweat bees, sweat bees, long horned bees and leafcutter bees
Nectar - Wasps, bee flies, various short-tongued bees along with butterflies and skippers
Aphid Predators - Both Lady beetles and Brown Lacewing inhabit the leaves of the Cup Plant, both devour pesky aphids.
Katydids - Camouflage is the name of their game, but take a closer look, and you might discover a katydid munching on the Cup Plant's thick green leaves
Seed - Birds - Chickadees, Goldfinches, sparrows along with a host of other songbirds love Cup Plant seeds!
For more details, visit the Illinois Wildflower website.
Propagation Notes Cup Plant
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Stratifying Seeds
1. Zip lock plastic bag2. Few tablespoons of Vermiculite3. Dampen vermiculite - not soggy4. Store seed in refrigerator for 60 days Seeds require cold moist storage in order to germinate
Alternative Methods - Look for young seedlings under previous years plants, there should be an abundance. Or fall sow in an outdoor cold frame. It is best to cover them well with potting soil, making it more difficult for small mammals like mice to discover them.