Quackin Grass Nursery

Helianthus tuberosus 'Red Rover' – As if it were a skit from the original cast of Saturday Night Live: “It's an ornamental.” “No. It's an edible.” “It's an ornamental.” “Stop, you two... It's both an edible and an ornamental!” Jerusalem Artichoke forms tubers which are of culinary quality and delicious when boiled – like nutty-flavored mashed potatoes. 'Red Rover' is a very handsome red-skinned selection. The species is not from Jerusalem but rather occurs over a broad swath of North America well into northern Canada. The ornamental qualities of this plant are that in September in northeastern Connecticut three-inch deep golden yellow disks erupt in great numbers atop strong stems up to seven feet tall. The clean foliage is a rich green and broadly spatulate ending in a pointed tip. This is an easy-to-grow perennial sunflower, as showy as it is tasty. Place it at the back of the border in a mixed garden be it with other ornamentals, woody and/or herbaceous, or as an ornamental component of a vegetable garden or in a garden that combines both culinary plants with ornamentals. Plant 'Red Rover' in fertile draining soil sited in full sun. 'Red Rover' will colonize and form a glorious late blooming stand if allowed. Pot grown division if in active growth otherwise bare root.