Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 922 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Cup Plant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum, the cup plant or cup-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern and central North America. It is an erect herbaceous perennial with triangular toothed leaves, and daisy-like yellow composite flower heads in summer.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Cup Plant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 119 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 109 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 87 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 86 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 85 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 55 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New York | 49 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 40 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Mississippi | 36 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 34 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 30 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 25 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Missouri | 25 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Jersey | 17 | July | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 14 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 11 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 11 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 9 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Dakota | 8 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Connecticut | 6 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 6 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 5 | August | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cup Plant?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Cup Plant most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana.