Audubon® Compass Plant

A big, bold, bountiful beauty for butterflies, bees, and birds! Compass Plant is a towering, Sunflower-like Spirit that will cause a stir in your wildlife-friendly beds and borders. Monarchs and swallowtail butterflies will visit the cheery yellow Daisy-like flowers in midsummer, when they open on their tall stalks. So will bumblebees, miner bees, leaf-cutting bees, and many other buzzing things looking for sustenance. Eastern Kingbirds have been known to perch on the stems, on the lookout for insects to eat, and Goldfinches come by in fall and winter to gather the seeds that have formed. Magnificent!

Compass Plant gets its name from a curious habit it has of orienting its leaves in a north-south direction. On the treeless tallgrass prairies of our nation’s midsection, where this plant is native, sunlight is intense—too intense, in some cases, for plants to photosynthesize efficiently. Therefore, Compass Plant moves its large, scratchy leaves so that the sun hits them at the optimal angle. This plant is also remarkable in its longevity. It can survive for 100 years, due largely to its immense taproot, which can descend as deep as 10 or 15 feet in loamy soil.

Another name for Compass Plant is Rosin Weed, for the sticky substance found inside the stems. Native American kids used to scrape off this rosin and use it as chewing gum. You can try it, too—just don’t expect it to taste like Juicy Fruit! (It tastes more like Pine Tree.

We do the hard part. Our trees and plants are grown and cared for by only the best, local growers for years before they find their forever home in your landscape. Bower & Branch is known for having hard-to-find, substantial sizes and selection. The quality of our trees and plants are consistent in health and vigor—always ready for immediate impact in your garden and instant curb appeal. We believe in empowering homeowners with the truth about strong, healthy and structurally sound plants that are grown to perform in the ground after they leave the nursery for home delivery, always fresh inventory from the grower

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.