---
title: "Hi. Found those roots in the ground in my backyard. They look like…"
description: "Hi. Found those roots in the ground in my backyard. They look like ginger, but red outside and white (like coconut) inside. I saw a squirrel dug one and ran…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/2OB1JXZXRQeo4spB0EojrA/AhMOLTAJCREGzjsF7rOX1D"
community: "Plant Identification"
author: "Dima"
published: "2026-02-11T23:59:31.339759Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/DySnRq4F_CApMVT5JRNRNtwTanXtqLkKySdiLuRr5As/Q2VMOUrHSD-1zrQMpCGD5A.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi. Found those roots in the ground in my backyard. They look like…

_Posted by Dima on 2026-02-11_

Hi. Found those roots in the ground in my backyard. They look like ginger, but red outside and white (like coconut) inside. I saw a squirrel dug one and ran away with it, so it must be edible. There're no big trees or any plants nearby that can have such roots. Could you please help identify this plant ?

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/DySnRq4F_CApMVT5JRNRNtwTanXtqLkKySdiLuRr5As/Q2VMOUrHSD-1zrQMpCGD5A.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/DySnRq4F_CApMVT5JRNRNtwTanXtqLkKySdiLuRr5As/KEXxMgAKTHiFB1sfR8XdvQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/DySnRq4F_CApMVT5JRNRNtwTanXtqLkKySdiLuRr5As/2du0Kpn7QrOXNYEIvpHmeQ.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Rhus commented on 2026-02-12

A number of flowers grow from tubers and rhizomes! I'm not strong on IDing these, so I'm not gonna try, but we had sunchokes in my backyard when I was a kid and I remember being amazed at how they'd be completely absent in early spring, and 5' tall in the early fall. Maybe it's a plant you've seen but simply didn't expect to have this kind of feature?

### Dima commented on 2026-02-12

Maybe, but what plants can have such roots ? Looks like Skorospelka sunchoke. Wondering if any of the experts can confirm

### Lisa Anglim commented on 2026-02-17

I’d plant it outside and see what grows out of it. Or plant it in a pot inside. Or a pot outside. But squirrels will dig in pots looking for food.

### Lisa Anglim commented on 2026-02-17

I’d sure be curious what it is.

### Dima commented on 2026-02-18

I already gave it to the squirrels :). Those pieces doesn't look like they can grow something

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