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Silphium trifoliatum - L.

Common Name Whorled rosinweed
Family Compositae
USDA hardiness 4-6
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Open, grassy areas such as prairies, river cobble bars, and roadsides.
Range Native to the eastern United States east of the Mississippi River.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Silphium trifoliatum Whorled rosinweed


Mason Brock (Masebrock) wikimedia.org
Silphium trifoliatum Whorled rosinweed
Andrew C wikimedia.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Silphium trifoliatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 1.8 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Dave Jacke in his book Edible Forest Gardens has noted that this plant is edible although we have been unable to find any confirmation. Other Silphium species are edible for example Silphium integrifolium produces an protein-oil staple Crop and Silphium laciniatum resin is used as a chewing gum to sweeten the breath[4, 61, 105, 257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects [1-2]. Garden Ornamental. More manageable than most perennial sunflowers as it spreads slowly, and it is not known to be allelopathic. Adapts well to prairies, wildflower/native plant gardens, naturalized areas, meadows or moist, open woodland areas. Attracts birds and butterflies

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A tall perennial forb for full to partial shade. Leaves are attached to the stem in a 'whorled' formation. Sun Exposure: Full, Partial. Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping. Bloom Time: July to September. Bloom Color: Yellow. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed. Plants may be slow to establish in the garden, particularly when grown from seed. Plants often self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Whorled Rosin Weed

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Listed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Silphium integrifoliumPrairie RosinweedPerennial1.8 4-8 FLMHNDM312
Silphium laciniatumCompass Plant, Robinson's compassplantPerennial2.0 4-8  LMHSNM22 
Silphium laeve Perennial0.0 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Silphium perfoliatumCup Plant, RosinweedPerennial2.5 3-7 MLMHSNM020
Silphium terebinthinaceumPrairie Dockm, Prairie rosinweed, Lucy Braun's rosinweedPerennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNM021

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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