Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum), packet of 20 seeds

Family:  Aster (Asteracea)

Hardy to Zones 3 to 8

(Pilot Weed, Rosin Weed) Towering herbaceous perennial with deep delving roots.  Native to the American prairies.  The large, handsomely and characteristically lobed leaves are very impressive, designed by nature to rise up through and push away prairie grasses. The stems are heavy, thick, hairy and green, glistening with fragrant and bitter gum.  Traditional usage (Native American, TWM): expectorant, chronic cough.  Plant prefers open grasslands or regular garden culture.  Give full sun, moist soil.  During dormancy, burn off over the crown every few years (they won’t mind, they are stimulated and cleaned by the fire and nourished by the ash).   Sow in early spring or spring.  Some cold conditioning is desirable to get complete germination, but the seeds usually respond sufficiently to standard greenhouse technique.  They can be nicely direct-seeded in fertile soil in the early spring, as the seedlings are quite large and can compete to some extent out there in the big world. Flowers to 9 feet, space plants at least 3 feet apart.

20 seeds/pkt, Open Pollinated, Untreated, no GMO’s