Prairie-dock Silphium terebinthinaceum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIL-phee-um tare-ih-binth-ih-NAY-see-um
- Description
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Prairie dock is a native wildflower in the aster family and grows along roads and railways in addition to prairies in the central states of Michigan south to Missouri. It grows 3- 10 feet high and produces 2-3-inch yellow sunflower-like flowers in July-September. The leaves are rough and oriented vertically and in a north-south direction. The taproot is very long, reaching down to 14 feet. Native bees pollinate this plant and use it for nesting materials and even nest beneath it, making it a good plant for attracting bees to the area.
It prefers dry to moist loamy well-drained soils but is adaptable to rocky or clay soils in full sun. Use in the back of the border or naturalized and native plant areas. It tends to develop slowly at first but is long-lived and hardy.
- 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:
- terebinthinaceum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans made tea from the roots. Smoke from the plant was used to relieve congestion
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and birds will eat the seeds
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The flattened achenes are light and can be carried by the wing
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2-3 inch sunflower-like flowers with yellow rays and center discs in loose clusters.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large oval or heart-shaped dock-like leaves near the base of the plant are up to 18 inches long and 12 inches wide. Margins serrate or dentate. Under surface light green with hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is green or reddish and nearly leafless rising up to 10 feet tall with branching near the end.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
