• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Compass Plant Silphium laciniatum

Add some sky-high beauty to your garden with compass plants. Their yellow sunflower like blooms top 5 to 12 feet tall plants throughout the summer.

Grow the North American native compass plant in full sun with sandy to loamy soils. It is drought tolerant once established and hardy in zones 3 to 9.

Compass plant’s 12 to 24-inch-long dissected leaves resemble oak leaves.  The lower leaves orient themselves along a north-south axis. This minimizes their exposure to intense midday sunlight, reducing moisture loss; an important adaptation for survival in their native prairie habitat.

This leaf orientation inspired the common name and past generations did use the compass plant to help with orientation.

Watch for the variety of native bees, Monarch and sulphur butterflies visiting the flowers as well as birds and small mammals feasting on the seeds.

A bit more information: Break the stem and you will find a fragrant but bitter resin. This was used by native Americans as a chewing gum to cleanse their teeth and freshen their breath.

Upcoming Webinars & Appearances


March 25, 2023
OCMGA Annual Garden Conference
Appleton, Wisconsin

March 26, 2023
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

March 29, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Gardening Basics to Boost Your Success
Register now

April 1, 2023

REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

April 5, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
What's New - Discover
New & Unique Plants!
Register now

April 11, 2023

Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association's 2023 Speaker Series
Darmstadt, Indiana
 

April 18, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Growing a Bountiful Harvest even when Time, Space & Budget are Limited

Register now

April 20, 2023
SC Johnson Golden Rondelle Theater Speaker Series
Racine, WI
Register now

April 22, 2023
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL

April 25, 2023
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, MI

Watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win Melinda's Container Gardening Tips & Techniques DVD set

ENTER NOW