Compass Plant
Description
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) is a tough, tall-growing wildflower that pushes up a robust spike of loosely spaced yellow flowers. The large coarse leaves of this prairie plant generally point in a North-South direction, thus its common name, Compass Plant. It loves lots of sun and grows best in well drained soils; no heavy clay. Deeply tap-rooted, this is a very waterwise (xeric) plant once established in the garden. When growing in rich soils with plenty of water, Compass Plants can reach their full potential to grow over 8 feet tall, and in the right conditions, plants can live for decades. This long-lived plant may take a few seasons to reach maturity and full flowering. Compass Plant is a must-have for low-maintenance gardens and restoring lost prairie habitat. This is a good plant for meadows and naturalized gardens, and it grows well mixed with native grasses and other wildflowers. Recommended companion plants include Big Bluestem Grass (Andropogon), Little Bluestem grass (Schizachyrium), and Prairie Sage (Salvia azurea).
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