Yacon

Smallanthus sonchifolius

Native to:
Bolivia, Colombia, Peru

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Smallanthus
Species:
Smallanthus sonchifolius
USDA Symbol:
POSO4

Growth Characteristics

Height:
250 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
sep,oct,nov
Bloom Colors:
yellow, orange

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to Andean regions, prefers fertile soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Typically propagated vegetatively from tubers or crown divisions rather than seed. Seeds have low viability.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI