Compassplant, Compass Plant, Gopher Plant, Pilot Plant, Pilot Weed, Polar Plant, Ragged Cup, Rosin Weed
Slow-growing, long-lived and eye-catching, Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) is a tall, coarse perennial with stiff and sturdy, erect, hairy stems adorned with brilliant yellow daisy flowers, 5 in. across (12 cm), scattered along their top half. Blooming in midsummer to early fall, the flowers resemble small sunflowers with their yellow rays surrounding a yellow central disk. Reminiscent of pin oak leaves, the basal foliage of large, deeply cut, hairy leaves, up to 2 ft. in length (60 cm), usually orients itself north and south to avoid the heat of the midday sun, hence the common name. Attractive to butterflies and birds, the flowers are followed by large seeds that are favored by birds and small mammals. Native Americans used the gummy, bitter resin from broken stems as a mouth cleansing chewing gum. Silphium laciniatum is a stout perennial for the back of the perennial border and a great choice for prairie reconstructions or other natural plantings.
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 9 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Compositae |
Genus | Silphium |
Common names | Gopher Plant, Compass Plant, Rosin Weed |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 5' - 9' (150cm - 270cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Midwest, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Minnesota, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Rocky Mountains |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 9 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Compositae |
Genus | Silphium |
Common names | Gopher Plant, Compass Plant, Rosin Weed |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 5' - 9' (150cm - 270cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Midwest, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Minnesota, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Rocky Mountains |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
How many Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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