Cynara cardunculus ~ Cardoon Size:1 GALLON it's also attractive to butterflies

it's also attractive to butterflies and bees

Watch for aster yellows

there are also self-fertile varieties available that can produce fruit without the need for cross-pollination

IMAGES:  Peter Stevens

Ruellia-humilis2

Cynara cardunculus ~ Cardoon Size:1 GALLON it's also attractive to butterfliesCardoon 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: