Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus L.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲  colony in a fallow field in Ohio

▲ flowers

▲ leaf

▲ growing in corn in Indiana

Jerusalem Artichoke:  (pp. 146-147, Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 146-147, Weeds of the Northeast)

·        a creeping perennial weed that can form rhizomes and tubers that allow them to spread to form colonies with  maturity

·         most are palatable to livestock, except in fertile soils, where high nitrate accumulation may cause poisoning, but may be seen as weedy in reduced tillage crops

·         once established, these species can be hard to control; more common in reduced-tillage fields

·         produce relatively tall (4-8’), unbranched, leafy stems with ovate/triangular, rough-textured leaves with 3 prominent veins originating at petiole

·         leaves are opposite on lower stems, alternate above

·         upper stems have numerous small branches that have flowers at branch tips in late summer to early fall

·         ray flowers are yellow and disk flowers are yellow to brown; total flower diameter is usually 2-4”