# prairie rosinweed (*Silphium integrifolium*)

Prairie rosinweed is a bright yellow flower that grows tall in open fields. Its sticky leaves help it stay strong in the wind, making it a special plant in the prairie.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![prairie rosinweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silphium_integrifolium3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hardyplants at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silphium_integrifolium3.jpg)

## Appearance

The prairie rosinweed has sturdy, rough stems with dark green, often hairy leaves that attach directly to the stem. Its bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom atop tall stalks, often covered in a sticky resin that makes it unique from other prairie flowers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Silphium

## Interesting facts

- Its sticky sap was once chewed like gum by Native American children!
- Prairie rosinweed attracts so many helpful insects, it's like a buzzing hotel for pollinators!
- Some prairie rosinweed plants can live for decades, making them true prairie elders!
- This plant belongs to the sunflower family, but its flowers are smaller and more numerous!

## Special abilities

- **Resin Shield:** Prairie rosinweed produces a sticky sap that helps protect it from hungry insects and deer by making it unpleasant to chew.
- **Deep Drinker:** This plant grows a very long taproot, allowing it to reach deep underground water sources during dry prairie summers.
- **Wind Warrior:** Its sturdy, upright stems and deep roots help the prairie rosinweed stand tall against strong prairie winds.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 80-200 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-8 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Mid-summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Monarch butterflies sip nectar from its vibrant yellow blooms.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer sometimes browse its leaves, despite the sticky resin.

## Traits

- [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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or cause allergies.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify prairie rosinweed?

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 prairie rosinweed?

80-200 cm

### How wide does prairie rosinweed spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on prairie rosinweed?

5-8 cm

### When does prairie rosinweed bloom?

Mid-summer to fall

### Is prairie rosinweed edible?

No

### Is prairie rosinweed toxic?

None

### What is prairie rosinweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Galena Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/galena-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District
- [International Crane Foundation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-crane-foundation) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo
- [Eugene Field Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eugene-field-park) — Illinois, US · Park

[View all places to see prairie rosinweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/prairie-rosinweed)

## 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*)

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Source: [Prairie Rosinweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prairie-rosinweed)