A soaring native Missouri prairie perennial, Silphium laciniatum, can reach a whopping 5-9′ tall. Sunny yellow 5″ yellow daisies appear on tall stems July through September. It works well in the back of the border, or up front as a showy specimen. It’s huge, deeply cut leaves can grow up to 16″ long. Although it grows tall, it only grows 1-3′ wide. A fun native that brings a fascinating element to wildflower, cottage and butterfly gardens.

It earned its common name Compass Plant due to its upright lower leaves turn their edges north and south, yet the flat surfaces of the leaves will face east and west. Also commonly know as Rosinweed.

Being a plant with a long taproot, which can grow 10′ deep, it does not like to be moved. Once settled in Compass Plant is drought tolerant and long-lived. Native to limestone prairies and glades, its foliage is rarely bothered by disease. It prefers full sun.