CUP Plant

photos by Peter Harrington

Here is a cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) in our back yard. It is already around six feet tall and hasn't bloomed yet. This is a great native perennial for wildlife due to its leaves. The picture on the left shows how the leaves are attached to the stems. Water collects there and can remain there for days after a rain shower. Once birds figure this out, they flock to the plant for a sheltered supply of water. In the fall the seeds are eaten by birds as well. Cup plants aren't for the faint of heart, as they can be a bit aggressive and get huge.