Use these tips to grow cup plant, a tall native perennial that attracts birds and pollinators.
Cup plant is a native prairie perennial with a big presence in the landscape.
It grows up to 9 feet tall and is topped with yellow, daisy-like flowers for weeks in summer.
Credit: Rob Cardillo
Space is an important consideration.
Count on this long-lived perennial to grow 6 to 9 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide.
Cup plant is also an excellent addition to a naturalized or low-maintenance landscape area.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
Cup plants spread quickly by seed.
In manicured garden controls, be prepared to pull out unwanted seedlings.
Seedlings are often welcome in prairie gardens and meadows.
Credit: Ian Adams
Companies specializing in native seeds also carry it.
Scatter the seeds on a prepared bed and press them lightly into the soil.
Cover the entire seed bed with a loose covering of straw, and water the bed.
Credit: Bob Stefko
The seeds can also be sown in spring, but they require atwo-month period of cold stratificationbefore being sown.
Mark the location so youll be able to easily find the emerging seedlings.
Plant cup plant nursery starts in early spring at the same depth as they grew in the nursery pots.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Space plants at least 1 foot apart.
Water new seedlings and transplants regularly during the first growing season to encourage strong root development.
Spread a 2-inch-thicklayer of mulchover the root zone to prevent soil moisture evaporation and keep weeds at bay.
Credit: Scott Little
Light
Cup plantgrows best in full sunat least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Native to North American prairies, cup plant thrives in planting spots with all-day sunlight.
The plant adapts to awide soil pH rangefrom acidic to alkaline (4.5 to 7.5).
Temperature and Humidity
Heat and humidity dont bother cup plant.
This prairie plant thrives in high humidity and temperatures up to 100F.
It tolerates temperatures as low as 15F in winter.
Fertilizer
Cup plant doesnt need fertilizer.
The compost will break down and move into the soil profile, adding nutrients and improving texture.
Pruning
This perennial requires no pruning.
If desired, reseeding can be limited by snipping off spent flower blossoms as soon as they fade.
Removing the flower blossoms eliminates the potential for the plant to produce seed.
Pests and Problems
Cup plant has no notable pests, but it reseeds aggressivelyunless it is deadheaded.
Seedlings are usually easy to pull out of the ground when they are young.
Established plants have an extensive, fibrous root system and are more challenging to eradicate.
Remove unwanted seedlings as soon as possible.
Dig up young seedlings as soon as you notice them, and transplant them to a desired location.
Water the transplants regularly for a few weeks to encourage them to develop robust root systems.
you might also multiply cup plants by collecting seeds after they mature in late summer.
Store the seeds in a dry, cool location.
Press the seeds a scant 14 inch into the soil and water gently.
Seedlings emerge within a few weeks.
The only known variety isSilphium perfoliatumvar.connatum, which has hairy stems.
Birds, insects, and small animals use little bluestem for food and shelter.
Clumps grow only 12 feet high, but flowering stems reach 5 feet.
Zones 4-9
Coneflowers
Coneflowersare native perennials that produce large blooms from summer to fall.
Most varieties grow to 4 feet tall.
It blooms in late summer and is popular with butterflies and other pollinators.
It grows to 8 feet tall and wide.
Zones 3-10
Goldenrod
Goldenrod(Solidagospp.)
displays its yellow blossoms beginning in late summer and continuing into fall.
It grows to 3 feet tall and wide.
Cup plant is a perennial that lives for many years.
If you want to contain it, remove the spent flowers before they turn into seeds.
