Family: Asteraceae

Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke, sunchoke) is a species of sunflower native to central North America. The plant produces an edible tuber that can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. Before the arrival of European colonists, Native Americans cultivated this plant for consumption. It is possibly naturalizing on Oʻahu and widely naturalized elsewhere. This plant can be quite weedy in cultivation and difficult to eradicate. It can spread by both tubers and seeds and forms dense stands, making it difficult to get rid of once established.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability
  
• Possibly naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands; widely naturalized elsewhere
  
• A weed impacting crop production and native vegetation in certain parts of the world
  
• Other Helianthus species are invasive
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Thrives in full sun, but tolerates shade
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense stands that exclude other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by tubers and rhizomes
  
• Capable of reaching maturity in one season
  
• Seeds and tubers dispersed by soil movement, water, and intentionally by people
  
• Seeds exhibit dormancy and could potentially form a persistent seed bank
  
• Able to resprout from tubers and rhizomes after cutting or mowing

Low Risk Traits:

• A temperate species that may only thrive in higher elevations of tropical islands
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Palatable to animals and people
  
• Mostly outcrossing and largely self-incompatible
  
• Limited seed production could reduce risk of long-distance dispersal
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control