• Photo of Silphium asteriscus (Silphium asteriscuss)

Plant Profile: Silphium asteriscus

Taxonomy: Silphium asteriscus

Names

Rosinweed

  • Photo of Silphium asteriscus (Silphium asteriscuss)

Phonetic Spelling:SIL-phee-um as-ter-IS-kus

Genus:Silphium

Species:asteriscus

Family:Asteraceae

Rosinweed is a herbaceous perennial that typically reaches a height of three feet. Its leaves can be found in an alternate arrangement, occasionally appearing opposite, and are adorned with fine hairs. In late summer, it produces lemon-yellow flower heads that are roughly the size of silver dollars. The name "rosinweed" is derived from the resinous sap that, when dried, was utilized by Native Americans as a natural chewing gum for freshening breath. It's important to note that there is considerable local variation across its distribution.

**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Bloom:** Late summer
- **Fruit/Seed/Nut:** Fall

Silphium asteriscus Feature Summary

Silphium asteriscus Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#herb garden
#food source
#NC native
#goldenrod
#native garden
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#food source fall
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#audubon

Similar Plants

Silphium asteriscus Feature Summary

Attributes
Central and eastern North America
Flowers are attractive to butterflies and songbirds may eat the seeds.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
Displays from July to October.
Flowers
Blooms from June to September
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees

Silphium asteriscus Attributes

Silphium asteriscus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central and eastern North America

Silphium asteriscus: Wildlife Value

Flowers are attractive to butterflies and songbirds may eat the seeds.

Silphium asteriscus: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Rosinweed is moderately deer resistant.

Silphium asteriscus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Silphium asteriscus: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Silphium asteriscus: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Silphium asteriscus Fruit

Silphium asteriscus: Fruit Description

Displays from July to October.

Silphium asteriscus: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Silphium asteriscus Flowers

Silphium asteriscus: Flower Description

Blooms from June to September

Silphium asteriscus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Silphium asteriscus: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Silphium asteriscus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Silphium asteriscus Whole Plant Traits

Silphium asteriscus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Silphium asteriscus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Silphium asteriscus: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Silphium asteriscus Cultural Conditions

Silphium asteriscus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Silphium asteriscus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Silphium asteriscus: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Silphium asteriscus: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Silphium asteriscus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Silphium asteriscus Leaves

Silphium asteriscus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Silphium asteriscus: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Silphium asteriscus: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Silphium asteriscus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Silphium asteriscus Stem

Silphium asteriscus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Silphium asteriscus Landscape

Silphium asteriscus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Silphium asteriscus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Silphium asteriscus: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees