The study aims to provide reference for evaluating, classifying, utilizing, parental selection and introduction of germplasm resources of Helianthus tuberosus. The physiological indexes (specific leaf weight, SLW; Chl.a; Chl.b; Car.; Chl. (a b); Chl.a/b; acid sucrose invertase, ASI; soluble protein content, SPC; starch content, SC; soluble sugar content, SSC) of 53 H. tuberosus cultivars’leaves were measured and analyzed by correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that variation coefficients of starch content and soluble protein content were high, but those of acid invertase activity, specific leaf weight, chlorophyll a/b were low. Photosynthesis index of H. tuberosus leaves had different levels of correlation. All factors were distributed into 5 principal components by principal component analysis, with cumulative contribution of 90.301% . These materials classified as photosynthetic capacity, photosynthate, shade tolerance, protection of carotenoids and composite indicator of enzyme activity. All the 53 H. tuberosus cultivars were divided into 5 groups by cluster analysis. Group I had lower starch and soluble sugar content in leaves; group II had higher chlorophyll a/b content; group III had higher acid invertase activity and starch content; group IV had higher carotenoids content; group V had higher chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll (a b), specific leaf weight, starch and soluble sugar content. Five varieties, including‘Beichun 29’,‘Beichun 32’,‘Beichun 15’,‘Beichun 52’and‘Nanchun 56’, with good productive characters were selected for future demonstration and extension.