Helianthus tuberosus: Uses (Ethnobotany)
First cultivation of this food was by Native Americans.
Plant Profile: Helianthus tuberosus
Taxonomy: Helianthus tuberosusNames
Earth Apple, Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke, Sunroot
Phonetic Spelling:heel-ee-AN-thus too-ber-OH-sus
Genus:Helianthus
Species:tuberosus
Family:Asteraceae
The Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial root vegetable belonging to the sunflower family.
Helianthus tuberosus Feature Summary
Helianthus tuberosus Image Gallery
Tags
#wildlife plant
#hairy leaves
#larval host plant
#butterfly friendly
#pollinator garden
#perennial vegetable
#silvery checkerspot butterfly
Similar Plants
Helianthus tuberosus Feature Summary
Attributes
First cultivation of this food was by Native Americans.
Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from July until the first frost. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September.
Root tubers are edible raw or cooked and they resemble ginger root. They contain a high amount of inulin fiber.
Perennial
Flowers
Yellow heads 2"-4"
Gold/Yellow
1-3 inches
Leaves
Opposite, rough hairy leaves up to 12" long growing smaller s they go up the stem
Green
Simple
Opposite
Ovate
> 6 inches
Rough
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Herbaceous Perennial
Vegetable
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Helianthus tuberosus Image Gallery
Helianthus tuberosus Attributes
Helianthus tuberosus: Wildlife Value
Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from July until the first frost. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September.
Helianthus tuberosus: Edibility
Root tubers are edible raw or cooked and they resemble ginger root. They contain a high amount of inulin fiber.
Helianthus tuberosus: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Helianthus tuberosus Flowers
Helianthus tuberosus: Flower Description
Yellow heads 2"-4"
Helianthus tuberosus: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Helianthus tuberosus: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Helianthus tuberosus: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Helianthus tuberosus Leaves
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Description
Opposite, rough hairy leaves up to 12" long growing smaller s they go up the stem
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Color
Green
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Helianthus tuberosus: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Helianthus tuberosus: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Helianthus tuberosus Whole Plant Traits
Helianthus tuberosus: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Helianthus tuberosus Stem
Helianthus tuberosus: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Helianthus tuberosus Landscape
Helianthus tuberosus: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Helianthus tuberosus: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
