White Rosinweed

Silphium albiflorum

Other common name(s):

Compass Plant, White-flowered Rosinweed

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau
Limestone Plains
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Gravelly, Limestone, Calcareous, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

Endemic to Texas. Drought tolerant, due to its long tap root. It is a slow-growing and extremely long-lived perennial. Native habitat: dry, gravelly, limestone-based soil. But, it has been known to adapt to gardens with clay or loam soils if there is good drainage. Works well in rock gardens and rocky hillsides. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms May-August. Named Compass Plant because its leaves always align in a north-south direction, exposing their large, flat surfaces to as much sun as possible. Large, white, daisy-like blooms grow up and down the stem. The taproot can reach 15 feet long and grow right out of rock. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Important for pollinator species because it blooms in the hottest time of the year when resources are scarce. Attracts birds, butterflies, and bees.

References

1) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4323&locationType=County&mapType=Normal 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SIAL, 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Silphium+albiflorum&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 5) https://seedsource.com/white-rosinweed/, 6) https://www.plantdelights.com/products/silphium-albiflorum, 7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium_albiflorum#:~:text=Silphium%20albiflorum%2C%20commonly%20known%20as%20white%20rosinweed%2C,natural%20habitat%20is%20in%20open%2C%20calcareous%20prairies.
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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason