What is the name of this plant?

[Douglas Bolt]

This morning a friend brought a pot containing a sunflower-looking plant and asked for help with identification. I wasn't able to offer much help. It looks like some sort of a sunflower, but the flower is much lighter yellow than any sunflower I've ever seen. Five pics of the plant and flower can be viewed at

The plant is growing in Maryland, USA. It is 2 - 3 ft tall.

Can anyone offer an identification?

Douglas Bolt Visit

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[Jim Shaffer, Jr.]

It's been a while since I've seen one, but it kind of looks like a Jerusalem Artichoke.

[Douglas Bolt]

Thanks, Jim.

I looked at a couple of pics of a JA plant at

The plants pictured look much healthier than the one my friend Rod brought over, but the general characteristics look like a good match. However, I'm surprised that he didn't run into some tubers when he dug it up.

Thanks!

[Jim Elbrecht]

I'd vote for a white variety of 'sunflower'. Cook's Garden has one they call "Italian White" --

don't know all the different varieties, but the only package of 'mixed' seeds I've ever been pleased with was Cook's "Music Box Mix" of sunflowers. Never knew there was so much variety of sunflowers.

Jim