Silphium laciniatum

Employed as a bold coarse-textured backdrop in cottage gardens, wild flower plantings or mixed borders, its imposing colorful stature lures bees, butterflies and many a gardener. Widely distributed throughout our Midwestern tall grass prairies and once considered a life-saver for lost pioneers, this formidable sky-high perennial wields uniquely chiseled, up to 18 in. long basal leaves, which orient themselves on a north-south axis. Historically crafted into chewing gum by Native Americans, stiff bristly towering stems emit a bitter resin, while large white-haired foliage is cut nearly to the midrib, resembling a Pin Oak leaf. Along the upper reaches of thick stalks, a galaxy of huge, 5 in. wide sunflower-style blooms with yellow rays, yellow centers and hairy-edged green bracts make an exuberant summer long appearance.

Silphium laciniatum has thick, deeply divided leaves which often orient themselves in a north-south direction, hence the name Compassplant. Slow growing and long-lived, mature plants can have up to 100 large yellow flowers that open from June through September. Birds seek out the very nutritious seeds. Hardy to Zones 4 - 9.

Compass Plant. Early pioneers crossing the tallgrass prairies thought the leaves pointed north-south. Maybe. Whatever direction, this Midwest native has Foliage of Drama with big toothy leaves to 2' long and tall flower stems to 12' with 3"-4" yellow sunflowers. Loves a good deep soil.

GOT CLAY? This big, refined Sunflower-looking native from the Midwest is well known in those parts for its ability to thrive in clay. Towering, 5’-8’, branching stalks bear up to 100 large (4”-5”) “sunflowers” at one time. The deeply lobed foliage is very attractive & turns to face the sun all day. Long lived, it flourishes in the garden & with its very long taproot, tolerates drought extremely well. Good cut flower, many medicinal uses - bird & butterfly magnet! Blooms June - September.

Very distinct leaves are deeply dissected. This ornamental sends up a 6 ft stalk of yellow flowers. Slow to establish but definitely worth the wait. Long lived.