Native Plant of the Month: Winecup, Callirhoe involucrata

This beautiful perennial sprawls along the ground and produces purple blooms

from March through June. It loves growing in the sun and part shade with dry to

moist soil conditions. This plant goes dormant in late summer. Even though this

plant is only about one foot tall, it has a 3-foot taproot, which helps it survive dry

conditions once established.

Our native bees and butterflies love to nectar on this plant. Winecup is a host

plant for the Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus. This plant can be propagated by

seed and cuttings. Watch the plant closely as flowers mature into seeds, because

the seeds will fall away once ripe. Scarify the seed by rubbing on sandpaper and

then plant under a gentle layer of soil. Tip cuttings can be taken in February. -

Louise Prejean. Photo credit: Donna Gauthier