Wild Compass plant is a perennial native prairie wildflower (a perennial native prairie forb). Silphium laciniatum is a perennial native prairie wildflower (a perennial native prairie forb). Oak Prairie Farm offers retail perennial native prairie wildflowers (retail perennial native prairie forbs). Oak Prairie Farm offers wholesale perennial native prairie wildflowers (wholesale perennial native prairie forbs). This Prairie Guidebook page provides perennial native prairie wildflower (perennial native prairie forb) wild plant propagation information. This Prairie Guidebook page provides perennial native prairie wildflower (perennial native prairie forb) wild seed treatment information. This Prairie Guidebook page also provides perennial perennial native prairie wildflower (perennial native prairie forb) wild seed sales information.

Compass plant	Also called: polar plant, turpentine plant

Botanical name:	Silphium laciniatum

Description: numerous bright yellow flowers grow on branching stalks at the top of the plant. These perennial, open, branching plants are up to 12 feet tall, with very large, deeply cut, angular leaves. Lower leaves are lobed and hairy.

Attracts:	Birds.
Bloom time:	From late July through August.
Range:	throughout the Midwest.
Sunshine:	Full sun.
Moisture:	Fairly wet to dry.
Soil types:	Clay or sandy loam best.

Suggested seed treatment: You should provide 60 days of cold moist stratification. Many prairie wildflower seeds benefit by moist cold stratification, some require it to germinate. Seed that you purchase from Oak Prairie Farm has not received cold moist stratification.

Direct planting tips: Plant seed in desired location 1/2 inch deep in the soil, and firm.

Transplants: If you grow transplants from our seed: transplant while dormant in spring or fall, trim long roots, plant with buds just below the soil surface, space 2 to 4 feet apart.

Companion prairie plants: Rattlesnake master, purple prairie clover, yellow coneflower, Big bluestem, Indian grass.

Comments: Very vigorous. Native Americans chewed the extract of the stem as gum.

indicates photos taken by Dan Klapper.

indicates photos taken by Dr. Era Jo Moorer. All others taken by Lin Heinrich.
See the About Oak Prairie Farm link on the Home page for more information concerning photographers.