Source of Supply

Cup-plant seeds and plants can be ordered at the following plant nurseries:

Gärtnerei Schrüfer

Pezoldstr. 18

91327 Gößweinstein

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 9242-220 and +49 (0) 9242 - 743501

www.gaertnerei-schruefer.de

E-Mail: info (at) gaertnerei-schruefer.de

Gärtnerei Übelhack

Leisauer Straße 16

95497 Goldkronach

Germany

Telefon: +49 (0) 92 73 63 08

Fax: +49 (0) 92 73 53 60

E-Mail: gaertnerei_uebelhack (at) gmx.de

Contact: Johannes Übelhack

Questions & Answers (FAQs)

Can I plant the cup-plant in my garden? Yes, it is very recommendable as a decorative plant and as nectar source for bees and insects. Does the cup-plant show an uncontrollable spreading behaviour like for example Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam)? No, the cup-plant stays on site, it proliferates only by rhizomes from the rootstock. A survey of dispersed seeds showed that they were eroded, probably by birds, mice and other seed feeding animals. Nevertheless, plantations of Silphium should not be located close to rivers and streams, so that the seeds cannot be dispersed over long distances in case of floodwaters. Is it possible to establish cup-plants by sowing? This is possible with pneumatic sowing machines, but Silphium, as a wild plant, has only a limited germination potential so that the stands will be jagged. In that case, young plants should be planted in additon. Is it true that a cup-plant plantation has to be established only once? Yes, the cup-plant is a herbaceous perennial. It builds new shoots every year. We know stands that have been in culture over 30 years, and the plants still do not show any signs of „weariness“. However, the nutrients that are detracted from the plant through harvest have to be replaced, which is achieved by fertilization. How can I get rid of the cup-plant if I do not want to keep it any longer? Silphium can be eliminated by deep ploughing with a special plough (Scheibenpflug) and subsequent grubbing after harvesting. Replanting the site with a shading crop like rye prevents Silphium from building new shoots. If some shooting happens nevertheless, the total growth can be chaffed by end of June, beginning of July and taken tho the biogas plant. It is not obligatory to use herbicides.

News (relating to Cup-plant)

The cup-plant project will be presented at the Landesgartenschau 2016 in BAYREUTH (Regional Garden and Flower Show). The expositon, also of other „energy plants“, is organized under the authority of Dr. Pedro Gerstberger, Department of Plant Ecology,University of Bayreuth (see also „Cup-plant in media": Cup-plant instead of maize).

The objectives are :

• presentation of the cup-plant
• public perfomance of the field experiment of a fall plantation
• gaining knowledge about the development of the plantation and its perfomance in the presence of weeds without herbicide application

The plantation will be undertaken by the plant nursery ÜBELHACK (see „Source of Supply“)