Scientific Name: Cynara cardunculus
Common Name: cardoon, globe artichoke
Family Name: Asteraceae
Origin: Europe
Hardiness Zone: Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 2 - 3m x 1.5 - 2.0m (height x width)
Habit: Arching, Upright
Form: Mounded
Texture: Very coarse
Landscape Uses: Medicinal plant, Perennial border, Tall background, Urban agriculture
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Lobed, Alternate, Basal, Soft flexible, Elliptic, Ovate, Pinnately lobed
Flowers: Head (capitulum), Purple, Jul-Aug-Sep
Fruit: Cypsela (achene + calyx), Brown, Oct-Nov, (Persistent)
Key ID Features:
Leaves large, prickly, deeply-lobed, silver-gray; flowers large, thistle-like.