Plant Details

Inula helenium

Elecampane

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Common names

39 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (27)
Dutch
  • Griekse Alant[1]
French
  • Aunée officinale
  • Grande aunée[1]
  • Inule aunée[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Panacée de Chiron[1]
  • Œil-de-cheval[1]
Arabic
  • طيون يوناني[1]
Armenian
  • Կղմուխ Հեղինեի[1]
Bulgarian
  • Бял оман[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • oman pravý[1]
Danish
  • Læge-alant[1]
Estonian
Finnish
  • isohirvenjuuri[1]
German
  • Echter Alant[1]
Hungarian
  • Örménygyökér[1]
Italian
  • Enula campana[1]
Japanese
  • オオグルマ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Didysis debesylas[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Oman wielki[1]
Portuguese
  • Énula-campana[1]
Romanian
  • Iarbă mare[1]
Russian
  • Девясил высокий[1]
Slovak
  • oman pravý[1]
Slovenian
  • veliki oman[1]
Spanish
Swedish
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • ålandsrot[1]
Ukrainian
  • Оман високий[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

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] Inula helenium — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Elecampane — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Echter Alant — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Grande aunée — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Inule aunée — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Œil-de-cheval — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • oman pravý — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • énula — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Læge-alant — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Девясил высокий — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • alantrot — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • isohirvenjuuri — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Oman wielki — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Didysis debesylas — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Énula-campana — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • オオグルマ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • aedvaak — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Կղմուխ Հեղինեի — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • 土木香 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Бял оман — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Oman — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Griekse alant — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • 土木香 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • 祁木香 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • 祁木香 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • ålandsrot — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • alant — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • elunört — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Elins rot — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Оман високий — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • veliki oman — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • طيون يوناني — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Iarbă mare — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Örménygyökér — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • horse-heal — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • elfdock — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Panacée de Chiron — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • Enula campana — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.
  • oman pravý — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 133951; Inula helenium.

General information

Scientific name: Inula helenium
Accepted name (Kew): Inula helenium L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Elecampane
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.83 m

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

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

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

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Erect

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

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

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

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

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt)
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Essential oil, Fragrant

Description

Leaves - cooked. Originally bitter and aromatic, they were used as a vegetable by the ancient Romans but are now rarely eaten. Root - candied and eaten as a sweet. It contains up to 44% inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. Inulin usually passes through the digestive system without being broken down. However, it can ferment and cause gas in some people. Inulin can be converted into a sugar that is suitable for diabetics. The Council of Europe classifies Inula helenium as a natural food flavoring.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

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 556358; name ID 3133817; Inula L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 833490; name ID 2901737; Inula helenium L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Inula helenium — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 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 .