Cynara cardunculus ~ Cardoon Size:1 GALLON Thornless varieties are often preferred

Thornless varieties are often preferred for landscaping purposes

(3) Photoset by Elvert Barnes

and silver if grown in part shade

IMAGES:  Peter Stevens

The bright silver sage darkens to olive when it matures

Cynara cardunculus ~ Cardoon Size:1 GALLON Thornless varieties are often preferredCardoon is a tender columnar perennial treated as an annual with attractive but prickly deep lobed grey green foliage. Sturdy edible stalks sport large flowerheads that are also edible if unopened and bloom to thistle like purple flowers. Best if grown in rich, consistently moist well drained loamy soils. To harvest the stalks, wrap the inedible leaves around the stalks and blanched when stems reach 3', and the cut to the ground 4 6 weeks later. Type: