Tender herbaceous perennial – Full Sun
Cynara cardunculus  
Ht. 6-8’ Spread 4-5’
sigh-NAH-ra car-doon-KEW-lus 
Spacing 3-4’

HABIT:  Large, dramatic plant that should normally be treated as an annual. Huge gray-green, deeply cut, fuzzy leaves. Forms dramatic purple flowers that resemble thistle.

CULTURE:  Likes deep, moist soil during the growing season but will rot in wet soil in the winter.

USES:  Leaf stalks to soups and stews. Dramatic or decorative specimen or a backdrop plant for larger herb gardens.

PROBLEMS:  Can’t stand wet feet. Grows very large, not suitable for small herb gardens.

HARVEST:  Harvest the leaf stalks as needed and use fresh.

NOTES:  Mice like the seed, so be careful with the propagation location. Cardoon is a very close relative of the edible globe artichoke.



Photos submitted by K. Atchley