Perennial sunflower

Genes from wild perennial relatives may increase root depth and mass and extend the growing season.

Perennial sunflowers survive the winter by storing food in underground freezing-tolerant stems called rhizomes.

Native Americans domesticated the wild perennial sunflower Helianthus tuberosus by selecting individuals with larger tubers.

Scientists are using this group to make “bridging crosses” that will bring together the genes from the crop sunflower and several other perennial species.

These plants are remarkably diverse in appearance, including variation for head size, color, leaf shape, height.