Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant)

Compass Plant is a tall, coarse, slow-growing and long-lived perennial. It has deeply cut, hairy leaves that usually orient themselves north and south. It features eye-catching sunflower-like flowers in the summer. The hardened sap of this plant can be chewed like gum.

Compass Plant has a large, woody taproot. It is slow to establish and may not flower until the second or third year. It is native to Blackland Prairie regions and often grows with Big Bluestem. It provides height for the rear of the border, and is excellent for naturalizing in prairies, cottage gardens, wildflower gardens or native plant gardens.

AT A GLANCE