- Author: Tina Saravia
A visit a couple of years ago in the winter to my friends' house resulted in scoring a couple of truckloads of homemade compost, some redwood 1"x1"s and a rhizome of a Maximillian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani).
I planted the rhizome and it started growing the following spring. My friends warned me that this plant can get big. After all the rhizome was at least 2 ft. x 2 ft. I was still surprised when it kept growing through the summer and spilled over the walkway. It grew to about 6 or 7 feet tall and as wide.
I remember a friend came to visit on July 5th and had to lean over and twist her body as she walked by this gigantic plant.
It finally bloomed in late summer, and gifted us with dozens, if not hundreds, of 2-3 inch yellow flowers. I was not impressed; overwhelmed by the size, yes. But tiny little flowers, great big plant, and I can't eat it...or can I?
Let me make it clear. I still like it. In fact, I kept it in the same spot. I like a challenging, easy to care for plant - (oxymoron?) So this year, I've been pruning it back as it comes over the path so I could walk pass it without crouching or twisting. I also like it because it's drought tolerant. It can get by with minimal watering; nothing seems to bother it, no insect damage, no disease and it's clean — the leaves stay on the plant, even when it's very windy. It's also humongous and provides some wind protection and shade for the other plants.
But I found out something that will probably make me love this American native plant.
I found out that the Native Americans of the Great Plains ate the roots like Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosum). They were eaten raw, boiled or roasted. Yum, I can't wait...
NOTE: The UCCE Master Gardeners do not recommend eating anything unless you know with 100% certainty the identity of the plant. Please have your plants identified before consuming it.