I love sunroots.

It has been many years since I grew Sunroots. They are delicious, even the children loved them.
My question is, do they produce seeds? I can't remember. Told you it was many years ago.

As an experiment once, we let them "go to seed" and we produced something similar to sunflower seeds, but they never germinated. They propagate so easily from the tubers that we never tried again.

I was just wondering if they would provide bird food if left to mature. : )

The seeds were likely empty of a germ so the birds wouldn't get any benefit from it. It's a shame, though. That would be perfect since the plants are so vigorous.

There are lots of great shrubs and trees that you can grow that provide food for birds. Maybe I should write an article about that!

That would be an awesome article. Right now I grow several different viburnum, poker lilies, Blackeyed Susan, Cone flowers, a number of different nectar type plants, and of course they love to share out figs, raspberries and blueberries. : )

I'll add it to my "to write" list.

Dave, I love them, great article!

Beautiful!! Don't you just love the vibrant yellow that they throw?

I can't stop looking at them and I am constantly out taking pictures of them when they are blooming! The pictures I posted above are from last year, I am anxiously awaiting bloom time for them this year.

I grow them all over my place. Wherever I have a bare spot I plop some in. They are an excellent plant with so many uses. I even have them growing out in the edges around my pastures.

This year I fear I may lose some to the drought, if you can believe it!

They are so happy looking!

Wow! I've not heard them called Sunroots but I do see why. They are a very good plant, it has been years since I've had any. You can slice them and eat them raw too, I think....

Nice write-up, Dave.

I grew sunchokes/sunroots years ago. In our red clay soil they grew just fine for years but didn't really take hold. Of course now, I kept pulling up my share of them for eating and selling. My bad! :>)

I think I'll start some at the edge of my "west garden" where Bermuda grass is trying to move it. If you say it'll stop that I'll go for it! I also tend to grow peas up my leftover okra stalks from the year before so I can just see peas/beans using the sunroots for the same reason. Plus, I'm a bit on the lazy side and love getting double-duty out of garden/food plants!

Thanks for the informative article!
Shoe

You and I see things quite similarly, Shoe. I believe that the sunroots will do what you want. Especially on the bermuda, it's a hard contest but I believe the sunroots will win.

Okay, that does it. Will get some more growing.

You think the sunroots have allelopathic qualities that will inhibit the Bermuda? Or will they tend to spread and smother the grass out? If you do an article that might be a great point to make, eh?

Shoe...off to close up.
Thanks for the nice site to play in!

I don't know about any allelopathic properties of sunroots. It's the smothering/barrier effect that helps it win against the invasives.

At least, that's what my research has indicated. I haven't tried it myself.

Okay, thanks. We'll find out for sure. Maybe I can get some going soon.

Shoe (off to shell cowpeas)

What's the height and spread of one plant?

Thanks!

For me they get vase shaped and about 8 feet tall.