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Prairie-dock Silphium terebinthinaceum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
SIL-phee-um tare-ih-binth-ih-NAY-see-um
Description

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:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#rabbit resistant#NC native#border planting#native wildflower#naturalized area#NC Native Pollinator Plant#long lived#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#rabbit resistant#NC native#border planting#native wildflower#naturalized area#NC Native Pollinator Plant#long lived#meadow
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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