Taste of the Wild: Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus

Jerusalem Artichoke

Family Asteraceae

Use
Root vegetable, salad, pickle. Substitute the tuber for any
recipes calling for potato. Thin slices can be added to salads. After a
brief boiling, the tubers can be pickled for several weeks in wine vinegar.

Description

Growth Form: Tall herbaceous plant.

Leaves: 10-25cm (4-10in) long, upper leaves are usu. alternate, lower are usu. opposite, toothed, wide at base and tapering to a point.

Leaves

Flowers

Flowers: Head is ~ 5cm (2in) in diameter, central disk of flowers are dark yellow to brownish, surrounded by several yellow ray flowers.

Stem: Hairy.

Flower and leaves

Habitat and Range
Disturbed habitats and waste places such as fields and roadsides. Found from Saskatchewan and Ontario south to Oklahoma and Georgia.

Season

Harvest the tubers from fall to early spring. Note: it is best to locate these while they are in flower, and then return to harvest the tubers beginning
in fall.

Fun Facts

The Jerusalem Artichoke is in the genus Helianthus along with the common sunflower, and may be confused with it or other species in that genus. However, none of the other species have tubers.

It is rumored that the name ‘Jerusalem’ came from a mis-pronounciation of its name in Spanish (girasol) and Italian (girasole), which literally mean ‘spinning sun.’

Click here for a recipe for Artichoke Chiffon Pie!