Yacón (Peruvian ground apple)
Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H.Rob.
Botanical family: Asteraceae
Smallanthus sonchifolius, the Andean ground apple, not to be confused with the Jerusalem artichoke, another plant called “poire de terre” in French. Its large, sweet and crunchy tubers are eaten raw (a refreshing fruit) or cooked, and are among the roots richest in fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), poorly absorbed prebiotic fibres, hence low in calories. Traditionally eaten fresh in the Andes; yacón syrup, more concentrated, is a modern preparation offered as a sugar substitute. Source: Caetano et al. (2016), Nutrients.
Full sun
Deep, rich, cool and well-drained (pH 6-7)
Regular in summer, the plant likes cool soil
Frost-tender, overwinter the crowns frost-free
Frost-tender in your zone
Role in permaculture
A productive perennial with self-sufficient propagation: divided each year from crown pieces bearing buds (no seed to buy back), with bulky foliage (up to 2 m tall) that yields biomass. Harvested in autumn, after the first frosts; a few days of drying in a cool, dry place concentrates its sugars. Sources: La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, “Réussir la culture de la poire de terre ou yacon”; La Forêt Nourricière, “Poire de terre ‘Yakon’”.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
Tubers lifted in autumn after the first frosts, in October and November; they keep a few months in a cellar and grow sweeter as they rest.
Available: January, February, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
These same FOS are highly fermentable (the 'oligosaccharides' of FODMAPs): at high dose, they can cause bloating, flatulence, and digestive discomfort, to be introduced gradually, with caution in case of irritable bowel. A small trial in obese women studied yacón syrup (Genta et al., 2009, Clinical Nutrition, DOI 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.013), but yacón is not a treatment (notably for diabetes) and does not replace medical advice.
Family behaviour: Asteraceae
In general, Asteraceae are a family rich in flowers appreciated by pollinators and beneficials (pot marigold, yarrow, chamomile). It is very scattered, from the mildest lettuce to the allelopathic sunflower.
Understanding families means learning one rule per family rather than every pairing one by one. Learn more →
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Keep in mind
A frost-tender plant: the top growth dies at the first frosts and the crowns must be lifted and overwintered frost-free (or heavily mulched in well-drained soil).
A note on rigour: many companion pairings are gardening folklore; this note sums up what the sources say, where there are any.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: deep, rich, cool and well-drained (ph 6-7).