Sunchoke - Helianthus tuberosus
Helianthus tuberosus, also known as Sunchokes or Jerusalem Artichokes, is a perennial wildflower with edible tubers native to lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. It is one of our many native sunflowers and boasts a larger-than-usual flower in addition to the edible roots. It is fond of moist soil near ponds and rivers, but does fine in medium, or even dry, soil once established. In fact, this plant spreads vigorously by rhizome and seed, so if you are growing it for an ornamental or for pollinators, you might want drier soil to check the spread. It is reportedly difficult to remove from the landscape once established, so make sure it has a space where it can make itself at home, or keep it in check with other well-established, vigorous plants. Many people plant this one as a food source however, and the crisp tubers on the rhizomes can be eaten both raw and cooked.
Its height ranges from 3 to 10 feet, taller in moist soil, and it is a healthy spreader under many conditions. Full sun to part shade. Tolerant of dry, rocky, or shallow soils. Plant as a vegetable or naturalize into a larger space. The showy yellow blooms appear in late summer through frost and make good cut flowers, but if you leave them in place they are popular with bees, butterflies, and moths. This plant is popular with a variety of native bees, including those that specialize in the sunflower family.
They are also a top host plant for butterfly and moth larvae, which means this plant supports birds by "growing" caterpillars to feed their nestlings, as well as seeds in late summer. According to Illinois Wildflowers: "The larvae of such butterflies as the Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone), Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) feed on the foliage of these plants, as do the larvae of such moths as the Arge Tiger Moth (Grammia arge) and Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)."
As far as human use goes, "Prior to European settlement, its tubers were cultivated by Native Americans as an important source of carbohydrates (Minnesota Wildflowers)." "Plants are still grown today for harvest of the tubers which begins about 2 weeks after the flowers fade. Each plant typically produces 2-5 pounds of tubers per year. Raw tubers have a nutty flavor. Tubers may be grated raw into salads, boiled and/or mashed somewhat like potatoes, roasted or added to soups. Unlike potatoes, tubers do not contain starch. They do contain inulin which converts into fructose which is better tolerated by people with type 2 diabetes than sucrose. (Missouri Botanical Garden)" We prefer them roasted with parmesan.