As a native perennial wildflower, Rosinweed has many natural qualities and one man-imposed blemish.  It has the word “weed” in its common name, but it really doesn’t qualify as a plant out of place.  It grows in prairies, meadows and roadsides.  It is seldom seen in cultivate fields or pastures; apparently livestock eat it out of existence—as they generally do with other prairie plants in the genus Silphium including Compass Plant, Cup Plant and Prairie Dock.  They all flower in mid or late summer, and produce ray floret seeds that are dispersed nearby by the wind.

Whole-leaf Rosinweed is fairly easy to establish in slightly disturbed sites, and it adds

Support your natural roadsides by supporting Audubon of Kansas! Donate Now!

substantially to the attractiveness of roadsides and woodland edges in July and early August.  However, Rosinweed is seldom planted, except by those of us who collect the seeds in the fall and distribute them to places were we are restoring prairie, woodland edge and savannah vegetation.  One must assume that it is not promoted because of the name, doesn’t have seed stocks that stand above all of the surrounding vegetation (like the other Silphium species listed) or because it isn’t cuddly!  The leaves have course hairs that are rough to the touch.

It generally grows two to five feet high, and contributes to the diverse rural habitat used by Bobwhite Quail and many other species.  It is generally found from the eastern third of Kansas and Nebraska through the original range of the Tallgrass Prairie. Native Americans reportedly used the root as an analgesic.

Photos made along Highway 13 within miles 2 to 4, northeast of Manhattan, and along our farm driveway in Pottawatomie County.


To nominate a native wildflower, or to send photos of a native roadside wildflower, click here