Silphium brachiatum Plant Care
Silphium brachiatum Gatt.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Silphium brachiatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known commonly as Cumberland rosinweed. It is a rare member of the genus Silphium and is native to the southern Cumberland Plateau where it is found in only a few counties of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Silphium brachiatum?
Water Silphium brachiatum every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Silphium brachiatum?
Silphium brachiatum (Silphium brachiatum) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Silphium genus. Silphium brachiatum is native to the southern Cumberland Plateau.
Silphium brachiatum displays a tall, upright perennial growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Silphium brachiatum produces large yellow composite flowers in late summer.
Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Silphium brachiatum?
Silphium brachiatum requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Silphium brachiatum Need?
Silphium brachiatum thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Silphium brachiatum Prefer?
Silphium brachiatum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Silphium brachiatum prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Silphium brachiatum?
Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Silphium brachiatum to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Silphium brachiatum?
Feed Silphium brachiatum every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Silphium brachiatum?
Repot every 3-4 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Silphium brachiatum?
Silphium brachiatum can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to compass plant plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Silphium brachiatum Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Silphium brachiatum, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Silphium brachiatum?
Silphium brachiatum is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Silphium brachiatum Need?
Silphium brachiatum grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Silphium brachiatum is native to the southern Cumberland Plateau. In cooler regions, grow Silphium brachiatum as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Silphium brachiatum is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Silphium genus — compare its care with other Silphium species on PlantoScan.
Silphium is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Silphium brachiatum thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Silphium Species
Other Silphium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Silphium brachiatum Gatt., family Asteraceae (first published in Bot. Gaz. 9: 192 (1884)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Silphium brachiatum, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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