Allotment Perennial Sunflowers at bottom of plot 01-08-2012 001

These are Helianhus - perennial Sunflowers. We have Artichokes growing on the allotment - Gerry grows them for their decorative value not for their edible buds.

"The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)[1] is a perennial thistle of the genus Cynara originating in Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows to 1.4–2 m (4.6–6.6 ft) tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery, glaucous-green leaves 50–82 cm (20–32 in) long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) diameter with numerous triangular scales; the individual florets are purple. The edible portions of the buds consist primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base, known as the "heart"; the mass of immature florets in the center of the bud is called the "choke" or beard. These are inedible in older, larger flowers." Quote from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artichoke

What you are thinking about make be "The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), also called sunroot, sunchoke, earth apple or topinambour, is a species of sunflower native to eastern North America, and found from eastern Canada and Maine west to North Dakota, and south to northern Florida and Texas.[1] It is also cultivated widely across the temperate zone for its tuber, which is used as a root vegetable" Quote from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke

Although I have worked on Gerry's allotments for 3 years now I've never seen this plant in flower! We also have it in a part of the plot behind the shed. They are seldom bothered , except for cutting down in spring.

You're welcome & I hope it's been of help to you. :-))

very nice!

Glad you like them, Jane! These are growing on Gerry's plot but I dug some up & put them at the very top of my own allotment, Plot 12A. There they have flowered this year for the 2nd year.

a double whamy....AWESOME! hoping so for you nice year too. may be i might get to see another photo then too.

If you have a look at my latest blogs you will see a photo of them on my plot as well as on Gerry's. "En masse" they are quite spectacular!

:):):) ok!!!!