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Native Plant Society of Texas

Compassplant

Silphium laciniatum

Other common name(s):

Compass Plant

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
10
ft.

Spread

1
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Clay, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Very little maintenance required. Works well in butterfly gardens, borders, prairie restoration. This is an essential plant of prairie habitats that grows tall so the flowers can rise above surrounding grasses. While it can live many decades, it doesn’t tolerate heavy grazing and will eventually disappear in continuously grazed situations. Native habitat: prairies and roadsides. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms July-September. Compassplant is a tall, coarse plant. Large leaves are hairy, deeply cut, and usually orient themselves north and south to avoid the heat of the noonday sun. The yellow flowers are scattered across the top half of the stem. The fruit is a cypsela: dry, one-seeded, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Silphium laciniatum var. laciniatum, Silphium laciniatum var. robinsonii

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification To break dormancy expose seeds to cold, moist stratification. Start at least 5 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 10 C (50 F) range. Mix the seed with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Put this in a labelled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator for one day. The next day place this in the freezer for one day. Repeat this for one week, alternating between the fridge and the freezer. After stratifying, plant seed 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) deep in pots. Keep moist but not soggy and very warm (21 C - 70 F). When seedlings are 5 cm (2 inches) tall or more, transplant into the garden spaced 30 cm (1 foot) apart. Seedlings take 2-3 years to flower. Collect seeds of compassplant from mature plants. The seeds are typically ready when the flower heads dry out and turn brown. Gently cut the heads and store them in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. Prepare the seeds by breaking them free from the dried flower heads. Be careful to keep as much of the seed intact as possible. 1) https://illinoispollinators.org/plant/compass-plant/#:~:text=Establishment%20and%20Propagation,2%20inch)%20in%20the%20spring. 2) https://www.wildflowerfarm.com/silphium-laciniatum-compass-plant.html#:~:text=Here's%20some%20information%20about%20growing%20compass%20plant,deeply%20divided%20leaves%20that%20orient%20themselves%20north%2Dsouth. 3) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Silphium+laciniatum#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,deep%20and%20extensive%20root%20system. 4) https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_sila3.pdf 5) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Silphium_laciniatum.html 6) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/silphium-laciniatum
Seed No Treatment In late fall through to mid-winter fill plastic pots with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Plant seed 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) deep in pots and label the pots. Place them outdoors in an area where they will experience the cold of winter. The seed will germinate in the pots in spring as the weather warms up. Be sure to water the pots regularly in spring and once the plants are 5 cm (2 inches) tall, transplant them into your garden. Seedlings take 2-3 years to flower. Collect seeds of compassplant from mature plants. The seeds are typically ready when the flower heads dry out and turn brown. Gently cut the heads and store them in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. Prepare the seeds by breaking them free from the dried flower heads. Be careful to keep as much of the seed intact as possible. 1) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Silphium_laciniatum.html 2) https://www.wildflowerfarm.com/silphium-laciniatum-compass-plant.html#:~:text=Here's%20some%20information%20about%20growing%20compass%20plant,deeply%20divided%20leaves%20that%20orient%20themselves%20north%2Dsouth. 3) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/silphium-laciniatum

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason