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Compass Plant was a standout staple of the tallgrass prairie that once covered what is now the state of Illinois, towering above even its tallest neighbors. Its name refers to the north-south orientation of its large, rough textured and deeply lobed basal leaves, which can be used to determine cardinal directions. The evolutionary reason for this orientation is to conserve water by shielding the face of the leaves from the hottest rays of the sun. Thick, sticky stems shoot high up above its signature leaves and bear numerous, bright yellow ray and disk flowers along their length. Birds flock to eat the nutritious seeds that result from pollination by plentiful insect visitors. Nurturing this slow-growing plant is investing in the future, as individual Compass Plants have been known to live for 100 years. Their especially long taproot makes them long-lived and drought-resistant once established, but also uninterested in being transplanted or divided.
Sun: Full, Partial
Soil: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Bloom Time: June, July, August, September
Color: Yellow
Height: 8 ft
