# cup plant (*Silphium perfoliatum*) The cup plant is a tall, bright yellow flower that grows in sunny places. Its leaves form cups that can hold rainwater, making it a fun plant for insects and birds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![cup plant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cup_plant.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cup_plant.jpg) ## Appearance The cup plant has distinctive square stems and large, triangular leaves that fuse at their bases around the stem, forming cup-like structures. Its bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom atop tall stalks, making it easily noticeable in open fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Silphium ## Interesting facts - Birds love to drink water collected in its leaf-cups, making it a natural bird bath! - Its strong square stem helps it stand tall even in windy weather! - Native Americans once used cup plant for its medicinal properties and as chewing gum. - This plant can grow taller than a grown-up, sometimes over 10 feet high! ## Special abilities - **Water Collection Cups:** The cup plant has paired leaves that grow together around its stem, creating little cups that can hold rainwater for thirsty insects and birds. - **Deep Roots for Drought:** Cup plant can send roots very deep into the soil to find water, helping it survive dry spells better than many other plants. - **Pollinator Magnet:** Cup plant can attract many different bees and butterflies with its abundant nectar and pollen, making it a busy insect hub. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 180-300 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Important native pollinator - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Browses young plants - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Feeds on foliage ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify cup plant? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is cup plant? 180-300 cm ### How wide does cup plant spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on cup plant? 5-8 cm ### When does cup plant bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is cup plant edible? Yes ### Is cup plant toxic? None ### What is cup plant's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Cleveland Cultural Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-cultural-gardens) — Ohio, US · Park - [High Trestle Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-trestle-trail) — Iowa, US · Trail [View all places to see cup plant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cup-plant) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cup Plant: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cup-plant)