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Photo of Cardoon flower by Kristine Paulus

Photo by Kristine PaulusView Original Photo

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Photo of Cardoon foliage by Dancing Oaks Nursery

Photo of Cardoon foliage by Karl Gercens III

Photo of Cardoon foliage by Kristine Paulus

Buy Cardoon

Scientific Name: Cynara cardunculus

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 3'-5'
W: 3'-5'

planting zones

7a-11

3 inch pot | $15

Ships USPS, based on weight/location

Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

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Cardoon plant details

Cardoon is a broadleaf deciduous or semi-evergreen perennial with blue foliage. In summer purple flowers emerge followed by green and purple fruit. Features fuzzy and glaucous texture. Attracts bees, beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Cardoon

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: asteraceae
Foliage: deciduous or semi-evergreen blue
Mature size: 3 FT - 5 FT - wide, 3 FT - 5 FT - tall
Flowers: purple blooms in summer
Uses: big leaves, clumping, cutting garden, dramatic, dried arrangements, sculptural, serrated leaves, spiky

GROWING CONDITIONS for Cardoon

USDA Zones: 7a - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Architectural perennial of the thistle/artichoke family…clump of stunning silver leaves gives rise to a 6' stalk crowned with clusters of showy, bright purple thistle flowers in mid summer. Full sun, average water…easy to grow. Stems are edible with artichoke flavor. Referred to as invasive in some areas…but we have only had ONE reseeder in 11 years (and our gardens are very inviting to wandering seed!). Deadheading before the seeds ripen would eliminate any potential of reseeding.

By: Secret Garden Growers

This attractive member of the Artichoke Family has proven hardy here in our zone 6A where is is grown in a protected setting with good drainage (in front of a south facing stone wall). Great arching silver filigreed foliage with stout stalks bearing large thistles in mid summer. Foliage grows to 24-30", flowering stalks to 4-5'. Springtime young shoots are a quite testy!

By: Avant Gardens

A gorgeous, bold architectural plant with jagged gray leaves up to 3' long and beautiful lavender purple thistle-shaped flowers bloom in late summer and fall. Blanched stalks and roots are edible as well, eaten like celery and endive. It appreciates warm summers or a protected spot and regular fertilizer.

By: Select Seeds

It would be hard to find a perennial more bold and statuesque than the cardoon. This relative of the artichoke can rise to six feet or more and has large, coarse, grey-white stems and leaves. The plants are topped with large, mauve thistle-like flowers in summer. Use as a focal point in the garden. From Mediterranean Europe.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

A fantastic giant silver thistle with luminous lavender flowers, useful for intimidating the more demure plants in your garden. While they look threatening the soft felty leaves are not spined like the Globe artichoke and while the flowers are smaller the whole plant appears more refined, is considerably taller and tougher.The tender new leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach and are reportedly an excellent fodder crop for dry areas, making rapid growth after the first autumn rains long before winter grasses become grazable.A short lived perennial best when allowed to go summer dormant otherwise in watered garden the foliage is evergreen but deteriorating over summer. Self seeds enough but not rampantly.An excellent companion is another drought resistant, statuesque perennial, Verbena bonariensis in a similar purple, perhaps with a footing of frothy white Gaura lindheimeri and a few Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' with burgundy foliage to enhance the silver leaves.A declared plant in W.A. where it is illegal to grow or transport plants and seeds, befuddling considering it's edible nature and potential as both a fodder crop and a source of biomass for the production of renewable energy.

By: Zephs

CARDOON - ARTICHOKE THISTLE - A upright growing annual herb..large plants have deeply notched foliage of silver gray..the spineless stems are superb for eating. Growns into a very large attractive foliage plant. Uses are culinary or ornamental.

By: Accents for Home and Garden

Grown in Europe since medieval times for its celery-like (if WELL cooked) stem ; artichoke-like flower head, this spiny 4-5 footer also offers a silver sculptural accent with showy purple flowers; can spread seed. SUN/Med-Dry/GdDrain

By: Forestfarm

Flamboyant rosettes of jagged architectural leaves give birth to a 5' flower stalk adorned with spiky purple flowers.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Spiny silvery gray foliage, purple flowers, full sun, large plant.

By: Thompson's Nursery

Garden photo gallery of Cardoon

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By: Kristine Paulus

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By: Zubro

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By: BotBin

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By: Peripitus

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By: Karelj

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By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

By: Karl Gercens III

By: Kristine Paulus

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By: Kristine Paulus

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View Original Photo

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By: Kristine Paulus

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

View Original Photo

Gardening facts about Cardoon plant

How to Grow Cardoon

Soil Needs
- average
- well-drained
- rich
Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly sun
Water Needs
- regular - drought tolerant
Special Situation
- heat tolerant

Features

Foliage Color
- blue
Flower Color
- purple
Flower Season
- summer
Foliage Season
- deciduous
- semi-evergreen
Wildlife
- beneficial insects
- bees
- butterflies
- hummingbirds
- deer resistant
- rabbit resistant
Fruit
- green
- purple
Texture
- glaucous
- fuzzy