Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Silphium laciniatum visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website. Endangered - On the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Rare Plant List
One yellow flower, with 60 or so thin over lapping petals, on the right flowers that have not opened that look like green crowns.
Notice buds forming on the right. by megachile -inaturalist.org Domain no rights reserved
A very tall Silphium laciniatum plant towering over the rest of the garden.
This pictures gives you a sense of how tall Silphium laciniatum truly are -Christine V - Ohio


Cultivation Information Compass Plant



Height - 8 ftFlower Color - YellowBlooms - June - SeptemberSun - Full sun/part shade
Soil - Wet to dry
Hardy Zone -3 to 9Family -Asteraceae
Seed Provenance Silphium laciniatum
Nodding Onion Gardens - 2012 to present, Native Bee-Ginnings, Pennsylvania - 2019, Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN - 2010 - 2011
Buds on Silphium laciniatum look like four little crowns.
Don't the buds on Compass Plant look like little crowns? Dana Lee Ling -inaturlist.org - Public Domain - no rights reserved

Wildlife Significance Compass Plant

Pollinated by - Long-tongued bees, bumblebees, Minor bee Attracts - Syrphid flies, butterflies like Sulfure and Monarch
Seed - Enjoyed by songbirds and small mammals
For detailed information on Compass Plant visit the Illinois Wildflower website

Propagation Notes Compass Plant

Slow to mature - Silphium laciniatum was started from seed in February 2016, we didn't expect flowers the first season but were surprised when not one of our Compass Plants bloomed in 2017.
Hopefully, they will get down to business in 2018 - They Did!
In the spring, Silphium laciniatum have three thick fuzzy leaves that look a bit like ferns but more dense.
One large leaf with many dividers almost like finger all the way up a 12- inch arm.
Easily Distinguishable leaves of Compass Plant