Rosinweeds

Rosinweeds (Silphium) is a genus of 19 North American wildflowers that generally occur in the eastern and southeastern United States. The flowers of these plants are daisy-like and generally yellow in color but sometimes occur in white and the plants can grow anywhere from .5 to 4 meters in height. One species, Simpson’s

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Rosinweed (Silphium simpsonii) is known in the wild only in the state of Florida and several other species are also Florida native wildflowers. A number of rosinweed species are listed as threatened or endangered.

Rosinweed is a pretty and long lasting nectar flower that is attractive in informal gardens. Gulf Fritillary butterflies seem to favor this nectar here at MOSI.

What’s in a name?: The genus name derives from the Greek name for a species of North African plant that was prized in ancient times. The flowers of silphium were used in the production of perfume, the plan sap was used to create a type of resin and parts of the plant were widely used in spices and ancient medication. The identity of this plant had been lost to us and the plant may have been lost to extinction due to overgrazing and overharvesting. Some researches suggest that the silphium of ancient times may actually be Giant Tangier Fennel (Ferula tingitana) which also grows in the areas of the Maghreb known for the production of ancient silphium and seems similar to ancient images depicting the plant and has a wide variety of uses.