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Summary
Physical Characteristics

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.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
No synonyms are recorded for this name.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Oil Root Seed
Edible Uses: Oil
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) [1-1]. 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 [1-1].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The root was used by US Plateau Indian tribes to treat erectile dysfunction, wasting, and tuberculosis.
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Management: Standard Staple Crop: Protein-oil Under Development
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) [1-1].
Carbon Farming
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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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.
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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.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Propagation
Seed
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Helianthus Species, Cusick's Sunflower, Turniproot Sunflower
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
North America, USA
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
A.Gray
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
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Subject : Helianthus cusickii
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