Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum)
Silphium terebinthinaceum, commonly known as Prairie Dock, is a unique towering plant with flowering stalks that grow from a large cluster of broad basal leaves. Prairie dock is a perennial that is Native to North America. Its sunflower-like blooms last for a month or longer in mid-to-late summer. Once these plants have established themselves, they become quite drought tolerant and long-lived. In fact, Silphium terebinthinaceum is a close relative to Silphium laciniatum, who has been shown to live to one hundred years old! Some suspect that prairie dock can last equally as long. The large size and deep taproot make the plant difficult to move, so choose its planting site carefully because it might be there for decades! Prairie dock often grows up to 9 feet tall and enjoys full sun and medium-wet soil. It blooms July through September and attracts pollinators of all types. Due to its spiky, sandpaper-like leaves it is both deer and rabbit resistant.
