Silphium laciniatum, commonly called the compass plant, is a perennial plant in the sunflower family of Asteraceae that is native to North America. Plants in the Silphium genus are oftentimes referred to as rosinweeds. S. laciniatum gets the name “compass plant” for its leaves that orient themselves to face north, east, south, and west. The new leaves may grow in any direction, but as several sun cycles pass, the stems will rotate to point the leaves in the north, east, south, and west orientations. This directional leaf positioning is done to reduce the amount of solar radiation on the leaves, the plant also focuses resources on the leaves facing east and west that are exposed to more sunlight. S. laciniatum can grow up to 9 feet tall and have hairy stems and long taproots. Plants produce dozens of bright yellow sunflower-like flowers. Indigenous peoples of North America have used the resinous sap as a form of chewing gum, and dried leaves and roots for herbal teas. S. laciniatum is considered to be a diuretic, cough suppressant, expectorant, and an emetic in large amounts. USDA hardiness zones 3a through 10b.
Silphium laciniatum seeds require a period of cold stratification in order to germinate reliably. Place seeds inside a sealed air-tight plastic bag with a small amount of moist, but not wet, sterile perlite, sand, or vermiculite. Leave the bag in the refrigerator for 2 months prior to planting. After cold stratification, place the seeds on the surface of a well draining potting soil mix and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet, and keep around 70°F to 75°F for best results. Germination typically takes 1 to 4 weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
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