Jerusalem Artichoke

Jerusalem Artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus

A vigorous and productive native perennial, Jerusalem Artichoke is a towering member of the sunflower family that produces masses of bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall. The tall stems are topped with cheerful sunflower-like blooms that provide an abundant source of nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators at a time when many other plants are beginning to fade.

Beneath the soil, Jerusalem Artichoke produces edible, knobby tubers that have been an important traditional food for Indigenous peoples of eastern North America. The tubers can be harvested in fall and winter and have a crisp, nutty flavour when cooked. Above ground, the dense stems and foliage create excellent cover for wildlife.

This highly adaptable species spreads aggressively by underground tubers and rhizomes, making it best suited to larger naturalized areas where it has room to form colonies. Its combination of food production, wildlife value, and late-season flowering makes it an exceptional plant for restoration and edible landscapes.

Growing Conditions

Height: 6–10 ft
Spread: Rapidly spreading by rhizomes and tubers
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist to average, well-drained soils; adaptable to clay, loam, and sandy soils
Hardiness: Zone 3–9
Growth Rate: Fast
Tolerates poor soils and seasonal moisture
Best suited to meadows, field edges, large naturalized areas, and edible landscapes.

Ecological Value

• Excellent late-season nectar and pollen source for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
• Seeds provide food for birds and other wildlife.
• Dense growth provides cover and shelter for birds and small mammals.
• Edible tubers provide an important connection between native plants, wildlife, and traditional food systems.
• Excellent species for establishing productive native plant communities.

Larval Host Plant For

Supports the larvae of several native moth species and provides nectar for a wide variety of pollinating insects.

Companion Species

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive
Origin Native Plants

3.5 inch Pots