Cusick's sunflower
Helianthus cusickii

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

Helianthus cusickii is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Dry grassy slopes, open woodland, mountain forests and foothills. Elevation: 1050-1300m.

N. America. Native to the western United States from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California, and northwestern Nevada.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Edible Portion: Seeds, Roots. The roots are peeled and eaten raw. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: protein-oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world). Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system. Helianthus cusickii is an arid US western mountain species not tolerant of boreal conditions but grows on poor soils.

Oil: Oil

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The root was used by US Plateau Indian tribes to treat erectile dysfunction, wasting, and tuberculosis.

Other

Rating: 0

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: cold to warm temperate. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. A perennial wildflower herb. Poor soils. Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer. Cultivation: under development. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 7-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Helianthus Species, Cusick's Sunflower, Turniproot Sunflower

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.