Elecampane

Inula helenium

herb

Elecampane (Inula helenium) is a magnificent, statuesque perennial that towers 5 to 6 ft, with huge basal leaves and branching stems topped by shaggy, bright yellow, daisy-like flowers in mid to late summer. An old monastery-garden plant native to Europe and Asia and naturalized in North America, it is grown for its thick, aromatic root - dug in the second or third autumn. Its bold size and sunflower-like blooms also make it a striking back-of-border ornamental that pollinators adore.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Comfrey: A fellow large, deep-rooted herb for a moist back-of-border bed, both good for chop-and-drop mulch
• Bee Balm: Shares the rich, moist ground and adds to the strong pollinator draw of the tall yellow blooms
• Elderberry: A big, moisture-loving shrub that suits the same scale and conditions at the garden edge

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Powdery mildew →

  Can dust the big leaves in late summer - give space and airflow and water at the base, not overhead

• Aphids →

  Rinse colonies from stems and buds; the vigorous plant easily outgrows light infestations

🌾 Harvest & storage

Dig the aromatic root in autumn of the second or third year, after the tops die back, once it is large enough to be worth harvesting; lift the clump, cut away a portion of root, and replant a crown division to continue the planting. Wash, slice the dense root, and dry it thoroughly, as it becomes hard and woody when dry. The dried root is used in teas, syrups, and tinctures.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Elecampane is grown for its aromatic, slightly bitter root, used traditionally in herbal teas, syrups, and cordials rather than as a vegetable - the root is rich in inulin, a prebiotic starch. The plant is also a wonderful ornamental and pollinator magnet, its towering yellow daisies anchoring the back of a herb or wildflower border.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Handle with care. Elecampane root and foliage can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive people, so wear gloves when digging and processing the root. It is grown for its aromatic, bitter root used in traditional teas and syrups rather than eaten as a vegetable.