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Jerusalem Artichoke Overview
| DESCRIPTION | Surprise! Jerusalem artichoke is neither an artichoke nor from Jerusalem. Instead, it’s a member of the sunflower family that is native to North America. Today Jerusalem artichoke is planted in wildflower meadows, native gardens, and other habitats for birds and pollinators. flock to Jerusalem artichoke seed heads, and butterflies visit this plant’s sunny yellow flowers that bloom for weeks in late summer and fall. As a human, you may want to harvest this plant’s edible tubers shortly after the flowers fade. Mash them like potatoes or grate them raw into salads. |
| GENUS NAME | Helianthus tuberosus |
| COMMON NAME | Jerusalem Artichoke |
| PLANT TYPE | Perennial, Vegetable |
| LIGHT | Sun |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 8 feet |
| WIDTH | 3 to 5 feet |
| FLOWER COLOR | Yellow |
| FOLIAGE COLOR | Blue/Green |
| SEASON FEATURES | Summer Bloom |
| SPECIAL FEATURES | Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers |
| ZONES | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| PROPAGATION | Division |
| PROBLEM SOLVERS | Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant |
Planting Jerusalem Artichoke
Plant Jerusalem artichoke with other North American natives and get ready to welcome wildlife visitors to your backyard. Color-drenched planting companions include bee balm (Monarda), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), coneflower (Echinacea), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and milkweed (Asclepias).
Planting Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke thrives in average, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. It grows best in soil with consistent moisture but will tolerate drought and a wide variety of soils as long as the drainage is good. Plant tubers in late spring after the last frost has occurred or in early fall before frost makes an appearance. Choose a planting site that is protected from strong winds to help these lofty plants remain upright. It is tempting to remove the brown and tattered seed heads after plants bloom but doing so removes the valuable seeds needed as wildlife nourishment.
Special note: Jerusalem artichoke can become invasive in some areas. Digging and removing tubers will diminish the size of the plant colony, but this plant is hard to eradicate. Any tiny piece of tuber left in the ground will regrow. So plant it in naturalized areas where it can grow for many years and not spread into other valuable plantings.
