Helianthus doronicoides

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Helianthus doronicoides
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:4
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:6'
Width:2'
Blooms:Early Fall-Mid Fall
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Helianthus doronicoides

Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position[1]. Requires a rich soil[1]. Dislikes shade[1].

Plants have a running root system and can be invasive in suitable conditions[2].

The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[2].

Possibly a naturally occurring hybrid, H. giganteus x H. mollis[3].

Range: Central N. America - Ohio to Missouri and Arkansas.

Habitat: Dry woods, thickets and clearings[4].

Edibility: Tubers - cooked[5][6][7]. A similar taste to Jerusalem artichokes but less productive because the tubers are very thin[K].

Pollinators: Bees, flies

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Seed Ripens: Mid Fall-Late Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  3. Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  4. Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  5. Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  6. Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  7. Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.