Size and method of spreading:
Jerusalem-artichoke can reach mature heights of 6 to 10 feet tall and spread to 3 to 5 feet wide. This is a species that self-seeds and can produce colonies through underground stem structures (rhizomes). Jerusalem-artichoke is a perennial that will readily naturalize a large area.
Native geographic location and habitat:
Jerusalem-artichoke is native to the majority of the United States. C-value: 3.
Pollinators and wildlife:
Jerusalem artichoke attracts many pollinators, including bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, skippers and wasps. Birds such as the eastern goldfinch, bobwhite quail, and mourning dove favor Jerusalem artichoke’s seeds. The seeds are a resource for small mammals such as squirrels. Domesticated farm animals such as cows and horses will graze on the foliage of Jerusalem artichoke. Jerusalem artichoke is a host plant for the larvae of silvery checkerspot butterflies.
Leaf description:
Jerusalem-artichoke leaves are somewhat egg-shaped (ovate) with the widest portion at the base and narrowing at the tip (acute apices). The edges of the leaves are either toothless (entire margins) or serrated. The lower surfaces are hairy, and the upper surfaces may be hairy to almost hairless. They are attached by long stalks (petioles) that have wings along their edges, with the wings increasing in size near the leaf blades. The leaves closest to the base of the plant are often arranged in opposite pairs, while the leaves that are closer to the top occur singularly (alternate arrangement).
Flower description:
Similar to a daisy flower, Jerusalem-artichoke has flowerheads that are composed of petal-like ray flowers and a center of disk flowers. The ray flowers are yellow, long, narrow, and between 10 to 20 in number. The disk flowers are also yellow, small, and tubular with 5 lobes at their tips. The bases of the flowerheads are surrounded by two to three overlapping layers of long, pointed, leaf-like appendages (phyllaries). Jerusalem-artichoke flowerheads occur singularly on the ends of tall stems. They always face the sun.
Fruit description:
The fruit produced by Jerusalem-artichoke are small, dry, somewhat flattened with a ridge down the center, and tapered at one end (achenes). They may be downy or hairless (glabrous). Two thin, dry structures (scales) may be present at the tip, but they will fall off before the fruit fully matures.
