Native Plants
to use NOW Top pick for butterflies
Long season bloomer
(Spring-Fall)
Perennial, dies back only
if very cold
Starry Silphium
Silphium asteriscus
Drought tolerant and long lived, Starry Silphium,
Silphium asteriscus, is also known as Rosinweed, an unfortunate
common name given the plant’s natural beauty.
Botanical records show Starry Silphium occurring naturally
in flatwoods, sandhills, and disturbed areas in the
Panhandle and the western central peninsula south to
Lee County. As a garden plant, it performs well throughout
North and Central Florida. Plant it in average to moist
soils, in full sun to part shade. If you choose to dead head
Starry Silphium flowers, leave the leafy stems intact.
ASK FOR MORE: Florida has two native Silphium
species, both of which have robust foliage and flowers.
Silphium compositum, Bigleaf Silphium or Kidneyleaf
Rosinweed, occurs in sandhills in the Panhandle and
northern counties south to Pasco County. This species
is exceptionally drought tolerant and, like its star sibling,
has a long blooming season and abundant flowers.
The robust basal foliage is very attractive and looks
nothing like kidneys. Ask for it.
BUY LOCAL: Both Silphium species range wide beyond
Florida’s borders. Be sure to get Florida native ecotype
by purchasing your plants from a trusted source.
Above: Gulf fritillaries get their
fill of nectar on Starry Silphium
flowers in PEAR Park, Lake County.
Photo by Peg Urban
Far left: Starry Silphium flowers
can reach 2½ inches in diameter,
and are very attractive to butterflies
and pollinators.
Photo by Christina Evans
Left: This 2-5' high flowering
perennial blooms from spring to
fall in full sun and light shade,
average to moist sandy soils.
Photo by Spence Guerin
Below left: Basal foliage of Bigleaf
Silphium, S. compositum.
Photo by Nancy Bissett, The Natives
WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2019-2020 | 13
/WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG