Yakon, Yacon
Polymnia sonchifolia

Family: Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)
Genus: Polymnia (po-LIM-nee-uh)
Species: sonchifolia (son-chi-FOH-lee-uh)

Category
Vegetables

Height
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)

Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Hardiness
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade

Danger
N/A

Bloom Color
Orange
Inconspicuous/none

Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage
Deciduous
Bronze-Green

Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Patent Information

Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)

Seed Collecting