Silphium terebinthinaceum

From a distance, it appears as though prairie dock's big yellow blooms are suspended in mid-air. Sleek, almost leafless stems fade from notice among the sunburst blossoms. At the base of the plant, huge, spade-shaped leaves stand upright and face the sun, maximizing light absorption. Native to fields and remnant prairies, prairie dock prefers full sun but tolerates a wide range of moisture, ranging from consistently moist to moderately dry. The plant forms a taproot that can extend to a depth of 12’ and leads to very good drought tolerance, once established. Prairie dock may take several years to begin flowering and it is not an aggressive spreader. By itself, prairie dock provides season-long interest, from the emergence of its giant leaves in spring to the blooming of its big yellow flowers in late summer. The plant makes a perfect stand-alone specimen, and when used as a border, it can turn a simple path into a regal walkway. In a mixed garden, an area devoted to several prairie doc