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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|common_name=Jerusalem Artichoke
|genus=Helianthus
|species=tuberosus
|common_name=Jerusalem artichoke, sunroot, sunchoke, earth apple, topinambur
|habit=herbaceous
|Min ht box=1.5
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=3
|Max ht metric=m
|lifespan=perennial
|features=flowers, edible
|flowers=yellow
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Sunroot top.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=180
}}
}}
The '''Jerusalem artichoke''' (''Helianthus tuberosus''), also called the '''sunroot''' or '''sunchoke''' or '''earth apple''' or '''topinambur''', is a species of [[Helianthus|sunflower]] native to the eastern [[United States]], from [[Maine]] west to [[North Dakota]], and south to northern [[Florida]] and [[Texas]].<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?27946 ''Helianthus tuberosus'']</ref> It is also cultivated widely across the temperate zone for its [[tuber]], which is used as a [[root vegetable]].<ref name=purdue>Purdue University Center for New Crops & Plants Products: [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Helianthus_tuberosus.html ''Helianthus tuberosus'']</ref>
It is a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] growing to 1.5–3 m tall with opposite [[leaf|leaves]] on the lower part of the stem becoming alternate higher up. The leaves have a rough, hairy texture and the larger leaves on the lower stem are broad ovoid-acute and can be up to 30 cm long and the higher leaves smaller and narrower.
The [[flower]]s are yellow, produced in capitate [[inflorescence|flowerheads]] which area 5–10 cm diameter, with 10–20 ray florets.
The [[tuber]]s are elongated and uneven, typically 7.5–10 cm long and 3–5 cm thick, and vaguely resembling [[ginger root]], with a crisp texture when raw. They vary in color from pale brown to white, red or purple.
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus, Linn.). Compositae. The Jerusalem artichoke is the subterranean stem tuber of a native sunflower. Fig. 391. The plant is coarse and upright, and persists as a weed when once introduced. It does not need excessively rich soil, nor high culture, succeeding on any warm well-drained land without attention. It is planted much after the manner of potatoes, and it will grow and produce its many smallish, white, edible tubers.
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus, Linn.). Compositae. The Jerusalem artichoke is the subterranean stem tuber of a native sunflower. Fig. 391. The plant is coarse and upright, and persists as a weed when once introduced. It does not need excessively rich soil, nor high culture, succeeding on any warm well-drained land without attention. It is planted much after the manner of potatoes, and it will grow and produce its many smallish, white, edible tubers.
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
Jerusalem artichokes are easy to cultivate, which tempts gardeners to simply leave them completely alone to grow. However the quality of the edible tubers degrades unless the plants are dug up and replanted in fertile soil. This can be a chore, as even a small piece of tuber will grow if left in the ground, making the hardy plant a potential weed.
===Propagation===
===Propagation===
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<gallery perrow=5>
File:Helianthus tuberosus 1.JPG
File:Sunroot growing.jpg
File:Sunroot flowers.jpg
File:Helianthus tuberosus tall.jpg
File:Gewaschene-Topinambur-Knollen.jpg
File:Tobinambur1.jpg
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
