Silphium compositum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIL-phee-um kom-POS-si-tum
- Description
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Derived from the Greek word silphium, meaning 'a plant with medicinal properties', and compositum referring to the compound basal leaves, Kidney-leaf rosinweed is a native perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family. It is found throughout North Carolina, through rarer in coastal areas, on sandy soils, dry long leaf pine forests, dry woodlands, meadows, clearings, and along road sides.
It is identified by the large basal rosette of leaves and a tall flowering scap, which is a stalk coming from a very compressed stem. The lower internodes are very long and have few or no bracts with the exception of the part near the basal foliage.
Plant it in full sun to partial shade in sandy loamy well-drained soil. This perennial has a large taproot and it self-seeds easily. Plant it in a wildflower garden or at the back of a border and enjoy its showy yellow flowers from late spring through early fall.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Silphium
- Species:
- compositum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower garden
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL, FL , GA, NC , SC, TN , VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the seeds. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- 8 petaled yellow flowers with center disc flowers that bloom from May-September appear on leafless stalks that can reach 4 to 8 feet tall. Disc flowers have undivided styles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Reniform
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves are 4"-12" long with lobed margins that vary from ovate to reniform. Toothed leaves can be palmately or pinnately lobed. Midrib can be green or red.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Reddish to mottled stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
