The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), also called the sunroot or sunchoke or topinambur, is a flowering plant native to North America grown throughout the temperate world for its tuber, which is used as a root vegetable.

Despite its name, the Jerusalem artichoke has no relation to Jerusalem, and it is not a type of artichoke, but a type of sunflower, in the same genus as the garden sunflower Helianthus annuus.

When the Jerusalem artichoke was first discovered by Europeans it was called Girasole, the Italian word for sunflower, and over time the name transformed into Jerusalem. The artichoke part of the Jerusalem artichoke's name comes from the taste of its edible tuber. Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer, sent the first samples of the plant to France, noting that its taste was similar to an artichoke.

The French began growing these tubers successfully and were sold by Parisian street vendors who named them topinamburs, the French word for tuber.

The tubers are gnarly and uneven, vaguely resembling ginger root, with a crisp texture when raw. The carbohydrates give the tubers a tendency to become very soft and mushy if boiled, so it is best to steam them lightly to preserve their texture.

Jerusalem artichokes have a reputation for causing flatulence and gastric pain. Gerard's Herbal, printed in 1621, quotes the English planter John Goodyer on Jerusalem artichokes:

"which way soever they be dressed and eaten, they stir and cause a filthy loathsome stinking wind within the body, thereby causing the belly to be pained and tormented, and are a meat more fit for swine than men."