Plant Details

Helianthus tuberosus

Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke

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Common names

76 names · 43 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (42)
Dutch
  • Aardpeer[2]
  • Jeruzalemartisjok
  • knolzonnebloem
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • topinamboer
French
  • artichaut de Jérusalem[2]
  • Hélianthe tubéreux[2]
  • Patate de Virginie[2]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • soleil vivace[2]
  • Topinambour[2]
  • truffe du Canada[2]
Afrikaans
  • Jerusalem artichoke[2]
Arabic
  • دوار الشمس الدرني[2]
Armenian
  • Գետնախնձոր[2]
Belarusian
  • Тапінамбур, ці Земляная груша[2]
Bosnian
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Gomoljasti suncokret[2]
  • Jeruzalemska artičoka[2]
  • Slatki krumpir[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Czech
  • slunečnice topinambur[2]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
  • maa-artisokka[2]
German
Greek
  • Ηλίανθος ο κονδυλόριζος[2]
Hungarian
  • csicsóka[2]
  • vadcsicsóka[2]
Italian
  • carciofo di Gerusalemme[2]
  • rapa tedesca[2]
  • Topinambur[2]
Japanese
  • キクイモ[2]
Kazakh
  • Жер алмұрты[2]
Korean
Kurdish
  • Sêvarxin[2]
  • سێو بن عەرد (سێو بن عەرز[2]
Latvian
  • Bumbuļu topinambūrs[2]
Lithuanian
  • Bulvinė saulėgrąža[2]
Luxembourgish
  • Russesch Gromper[2]
Manx
  • Blaa greiney[2]
Mongolian
  • Булцуут наранцэцэг[2]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Ogishkibwaak (a'skibwan)[2]
Polish
  • Słonecznik bulwiasty[2]
  • topinambur[2]
Portuguese
  • alcachofra-girassol[2]
Romanian
  • Cartoful săracilor[2]
  • Guli[2]
  • Morcov porcesc[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
  • Măr de pământ[2]
  • Nap porcesc[2]
  • Pere iernatice[2]
  • Picioică[2]
  • Topinambur[2]
Russian
  • Подсолнечник клубненосный[2]
  • Подсолнечник сероватый[2]
  • Топинамбур[2]
Slovak
  • slnečnica hľuznatá[2]
Slovenian
  • topinambur[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • jordärtskocka[2]
Turkish
  • yer elması[2]
Ukrainian
  • Земляна груша[2]
  • Топінамбур[2]
Welsh
  • Blodyn-yr-haul oddfog[2]
Zazaki
  • Saa bınê erdi[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Helianthus tuberosus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Jerusalem Artichoke (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 140139; taxon 3K63N.
  • Topinambur (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 140140; taxon 3K63N.
[2] Helianthus tuberosus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Jerusalem artichoke — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • sunchoke — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Hélianthe tubéreux — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Topinambur — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • nyàmera — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • topinambour — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • artichaut de Jérusalem — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • truffe du Canada — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • soleil vivace — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • carciofo di Gerusalemme — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • rapa tedesca — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • alcachofra-girassol — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Topinambur — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • slunečnice topinambur — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • maapirn — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Jordskok — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Ηλίανθος ο κονδυλόριζος — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 菊芋 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 뚱딴지 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Sunroot — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Earth apple — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Blaa greiney — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Топинамбур — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Patate de Virginie — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Saa bınê erdi — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Sêvarxin — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Жер алмұрты — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Blodyn-yr-haul oddfog — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Tupinambo — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • jordskokk — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • maa-artisokka — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Bulvinė saulėgrąža — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Słonecznik bulwiasty — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Čičoka — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Jeruzalemska artičoka — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Gomoljasti suncokret — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Slatki krumpir — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Topinambur — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Подсолнечник клубненосный — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Ogishkibwaak (a'skibwan) — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • キクイモ — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • jordärtskocka — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Aardpeer — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Գետնախնձոր — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • yer elması — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Topinambur — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Picioică — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Măr de pământ — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Morcov porcesc — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Nap porcesc — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Pere iernatice — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Guli — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Cartoful săracilor — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Russesch Gromper — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Топінамбур — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Тапінамбур, ці Земляная груша — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • topinambur — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Подсолнечник сероватый — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 洋姜 — results[0].names[60]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 鬼子姜 — results[0].names[61]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Jerusalem artichoke — results[0].names[62]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 菊芋 — results[0].names[63]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • csicsóka — results[0].names[64]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • vadcsicsóka — results[0].names[65]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Земляна груша — results[0].names[66]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • 洋薑 — results[0].names[67]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Čičoka — results[0].names[68]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • سێو بن عەرد (سێو بن عەرز — results[0].names[69]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • دوار الشمس الدرني — results[0].names[70]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Булцуут наранцэцэг — results[0].names[71]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • slnečnica hľuznatá — results[0].names[72]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • topinambur — results[0].names[73]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.
  • Bumbuļu topinambūrs — results[0].names[74]; taxon id 122970; Helianthus tuberosus.

General information

Scientific name: Helianthus tuberosus
Accepted name (Kew): Helianthus tuberosus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Helianthus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.83–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.91–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Coffee, Root, Sweetener
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Biomass production, Carbon farming

Description

The tubers of the sunchoke plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. During the winter, the tubers develop a pleasant sweetness, especially after exposure to frost. They are reasonably tasty to eat raw, but in general, they are best cooked and can be used in the same way as potatoes. Sunchokes contain inulin, a starch that cannot be fully digested by the body, making them nutrient-rich but low in calories. Some people may have difficulty with inulin, as it can ferment in the intestines and cause gas. The tubers are quite large, growing up to 10 cm long and 6 cm in diameter. They break easily and lose moisture quickly, so it is best to leave them in the ground and harvest them as needed. The inulin in the tubers can be converted into fructose, a sweet substance that is safe for people with diabetes.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/03

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 556062; name ID 3133724; Helianthus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 841242; name ID 2927111; Helianthus tuberosus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Helianthus tuberosus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 335397, ID 3K63N: Helianthus tuberosus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Helianthus tuberosus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .