Silphium perfoliatum

Full sun

3-8 feet tall

Drought tolerant

Blooms mid-late-summer

The yellow blooms of this tall, impressive sunflower will be visited by bee and butterfly species alike. Cup plants are named for the reservoirs of water that accumulate at the base of their stem by their fused leaves. These ‘cups’ serve as important sources of water for birds and many insects. It can be a bit dominant in some garden settings, but it would do well along a sunny fence line.