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| "Jerusalem artichokes" formed a colorful border along our driveway. |
No one seems to know how these plants got their name, since they are neither artichokes nor are they native to Jerusalem, but are a part of the sunflower family. I was warned not to plant them in my garden or a flower bed since they tend to be a somewhat invasive species.
One of the plant's benefits is edible tubers that can be roasted or boiled and enjoyed as a side dish or made into a tasty soup. Native Americans are said to have planted them along trails where they could be available to hungry travelers. They are a great source of iron, copper and Vitamin C, and are said to be good for maintaining hair health (something I could benefit from!).
Tubers for planting can be ordered from home and garden supply stores.
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| About the size of ordinary potatoes, these tubers all came from one stalk. |
2 comments:
Wet areas around here are filled with them in late summer. The flowers are gorgeous and they feed my soul, but I never think about about them as a source of food for my stomach.
Try it, you'll like it! They can give you a bit of a stomach gas, but they have a mild and distinctive flavor, and they're good for you.
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