Compass Plant

Botanical Name: Silphium laciniatum

Height: about 2 m, potentially taller in a moist summer

Season of bloom: August and September

Growing Conditions: Full sun. Well-drained soil. Extraordinarily deeply tap-rooted and so difficult to maintain in nursery pots. Impossible to move once established.

Wildlife benefits: Pollinated by long-tongued bees, especially bumblebees.

From Ottawa Valley or eastern Ontario sources: Species occurs in the wild in southwestern Ontario where it is considered provincially rare.

Seeds: Germination Code: C(60) – cold, moist stratify for 60 days.

Remarks: Long-lived, slow to mature, and majestic, with large, deeply cut, and beautiful leaves. There are a number of tall, yellow, late summer daisies. Some, like Tall Sunflower are beautiful. Compass Plant is the only one I would call elegant.

Similar species: Prairie Dock, Cup Plant.

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