Helianthus tuberosus ‘Sakahlinski’

Jerusalem Artichoke Asteraceae

A particularly interesting form of Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus ‘Sakahlinski’ is grown primarily for its large, club-shaped tubers, rather than its rather less remarkable yellow flowers. It forms the familiar towering stems of Jerusalem artichoke, topped with sunflower-like yellow flowers in late summer and autumn, and is every bit as vigorous as one would expect from a plant with ambitions underground.

The tubers of ‘Sakahlinski’ are particularly attractive, being described as large and pale lilac, with a good culinary reputation. They are harvested from autumn through winter and into early spring, and can be cooked in much the same way as other Jerusalem artichokes—roasted, boiled, steamed or puréed. As with the species generally, the tubers contain inulin rather than large amounts of starch, giving them their characteristic slightly sweet, nutty flavour.

Its provenance is more mysterious than its name suggests. The original source of ‘Sakahlinski’ is no longer known, and the apparent reference to Sakhalin should not be taken as proof of a Sakhalin origin. The selection is, however, particularly well known in France, where it has been grown both as a culinary vegetable and as a garden plant.

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in full sun, allowing plenty of space for its vigorous growth. Harvesting some of the tubers each year is a useful way of keeping the colony under control.

Height: 1.5–2.5m
Spread: 60–100cm
Flowering: August–October
Hardiness: H5, −15 to −10°C
Edible: Large, pale-lilac tubers – cooked or eaten raw

Common name: Jerusalem artichoke. Listed by Deaflora as Helianthus tuberosus ‘Sakahlinski’. The original provenance is unknown; the name appears to allude to Sakhalin but does not establish a geographical origin.