Cup Plant is related to the other giants of the prairie, Compass Plant, Rosinweed and Prairie Dock. Cup Plant has a 4-sided stem, and its leaves join the stalk to form a cup which catches and holds rain water. Birds will drink from these cups. In our prairie, the initial planting did not include the Cup Plant. Two specimens came up nonetheless, but I didn't notice them. The next spring, I mistook a second-year plant for Cocklebur and sprayed it with Roundup. When I finally identified the survivor as Cup Plant, one of our few prairie species volunteers (I've noted since that we have native Cup Plant growing in the open woodlands adjoining the prairie restoration) I felt so guilty that the next season I started a number of Cup Plants indoors, transferring them to the prairie in May. They all survived the season, and I hope to see them all bloom this year. The plant pictured above is the Survivor, which narrowly escaped a Roundup attack.
To see a Cup Plant living up to its name, click here!
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