Compassplant

Silphium laciniatum

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Compass Plant

Photo Credit: Smith, R.W., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=30856

Photo Credit: Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=11264

Photo Credit: Makin, Julie, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=37397

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Native Habitat: Grassland

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Very little maintenance required. Easy to propagate by seed. Seedlings can take up to 3 years to flower.

Comments

Compassplant is a tall, coarse, sunflower-like perennial, growing 3-10 ft. high. The large leaves are hairy and deeply cut, usually orient themselves north and south to avoid the heat of the noonday sun. The yellow flowers are scattered across the top half of the stem. This is a slow growing, long lived plant with up to a 15 ft. a taproot.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3 to

10 ft

Spread

1 to

1 ft

Soil Type(s)

Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Nectar Insects, Bees

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonyms: Silphium laciniatum var. laciniatum, Silphium laciniatum var. robinsonii

References

1) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4319&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38401#null. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?.id_plant=SILA3

Native Plant Society of Texas