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Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: rosinweed
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Native Range: Eastern and central United States
Garden Location: Lucy and Stanley Lopata Prairie Garden, Suzanne Stagg Wright Rock Garden
Height: 2 to 6 feet
Spread: 1 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Clay Soil
Uses: Will Naturalize
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Also tolerates some drought once established. Will grow in a variety of soils including sandy, loamy or clay ones. Plants may be slow to establish in the garden, particularly when grown from seed. Plants often self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Plants develop taproots. Once established, division is not recommended.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rosinweed (or wholeleaf rosinweed) is a coarse, sunflower-like perennial that derives its common name from the resinous gummy sap exuded by broken/cut plant stems. It grows shorter (often to 2-3’ tall) than most of the other native silphiums, though it may grow as tall as 6’. It is native from Michigan to Wyoming south to Alabama and New Mexico. In Missouri, it typically occurs in rocky or dry open woods, prairies and glades throughout the state except for several far southeastern counties. It grows on erect, hairy stems sparsely clad with pairs of rough, stalkless, bristly, hairless to woolly, toothed to toothless, medium green leaves (to 6” long). Leaves are quite variable in shape, ranging from lanceolate to ovate to elliptic. Flowers (to 2-3” diameter) resembling small sunflowers appear in corymb-like inflorescences in mid-summer. Each flower features yellow rays and a yellow center disk. Flowers are subtended by bracts with reflexed tips.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Downy mildew, leaf spots and rust may occur.
Garden Uses
Best planted in groups where it can naturalize. Some gardeners find it to be too weedy for borders, but others find it to be an effective backdrop for other perennials. Adapts well to prairies, wildflower/native plant gardens, naturalized areas, meadows or moist, open woodland areas.