# Inula Inula, also known as elecampane, is a bright yellow flower that grows tall and proud. It has large, fluffy blooms that look like sunshine in the garden and is loved by bees and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Elecampane ![Inula](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Inula_helenium_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-210.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inula_helenium_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-210.jpg) ## Appearance The Inula is a striking plant known for its large, often solitary, daisy-like flower heads. These typically boast numerous thin, bright yellow ray florets radiating from a golden-yellow central disc. Its sturdy stems are usually topped with broad, sometimes hairy leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Inula ## Interesting facts - Inula belongs to the giant daisy family, one of Earth's biggest plant groups! - Its scientific name, Inula, comes from a very old Roman plant word. - The biggest Inula flowers can grow larger than your hand! - The roots of some Inula plants smell like sweet violets when picked! ## Special abilities - **Root Storage:** Inula has special roots that store energy and compounds, helping it survive winters and grow back strong. - **Pollinator Magnet:** Its bright, nectar-rich yellow flowers strongly attract many different insect pollinators, ensuring its seeds are made. - **Healing Helper:** Inula's roots contain compounds that have been traditionally used by people to help with breathing and digestion. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-250 cm - **Spread:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Visits flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination. - **Eats:** Mullein moth (*Cucullia verbasci*) — Its caterpillars feed on Inula leaves. - **Eaten by:** Domestic goat (*Capra hircus*) — Graze on Inula leaves and stems in pastures. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Inula? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Inula? 30-250 cm ### How wide does Inula spread? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Inula? 2-10 cm ### When does Inula bloom? Summer to early autumn ### Is Inula edible? Yes ### Is Inula toxic? None ### What is Inula's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Inula: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/inula)