Rosinweed - Silphium integrifolium

Silphium integrifolium, or Rosinweed, is a perennial wildflower native to southern Michigan. 
Like other Silphium, it is striking plant with a yellow flower similar to sunflower. It grows a deep taproot, making it drought-resistant, and will spread slowly but persistantly by rhizome. Give it some competition to keep it in check or keep smaller plants clear and give it room to roam.
 
It will utilize medium-wet to dry , sand, clay or loam soil, but prefers full sun. Bloom time is July to September. The flowers are popular with a variety of native bees and the seeds are large and easily used by birds. The height varies depending on conditions, it may linger at 3 feet, but in moist locations we have seen it reach 6 feet.
 
We are banking on its ability to spread and planting it in a medium-dry field to see if it can smother an escaped population of invasive Lily of the Valley. Fingers crossed. If you are looking for a tough flower to fill in some space with rich pollinator habitat, Rosinweed fits the bill.