Jerusalem artichokes - Helianthus tuberosus L., also known as sunchoke Samuel de Champlain first found sunchokes growing in an American Indian vegetable garden in Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1605.  The American Indians called them sun roots and introduced these perennial tubers to the pilgrims who adopted them as a staple food.  He took them back to France and they spread across Europe, reaching England in 1617 and Germany by 1632.  The plant is not a member of the artichoke family but of the sunflower family It has a tuberous root that can be eaten.  The tuberous root does not have to be dug up in the winter.  It multiplies rapidly.  In the spring you can dig some and transplant to another area. Plant the 3 to 4 inches deep in the ground. Jerusalem artichokes grow very tall and would be good in a part of the garden if you wanted to hide an old shed or fence or create a living wall.  They grow from 3 to 12 feet high with large leaves,        The plant is now taller than me.  I plan to move this clump to another place in the garden next spring.  The plant grows well in any type of soil. After a very heavy rainfall that dumped about 115 cm. of rain on our area in one day, the jerusalem artichokes leaned way over to one side.   I have them propped up with an old picnic table that is stood on its end.   The jerusalem artichoke flower is very small compared to the height of the plant. The flowers  are 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. The plant is fast becoming known as a weed, especially for farmers.  The plant spreads rapidly through rhizomes and tuber production and the tall plants take the sunlight for the farmers crops.  Be careful where you plants them. The Gardens ~ Seeds & Plants ~ craftygardener.ca Please sign or view the guestbook.