Plant Profile: Cynara cardunculus (Scolymus Group)

Globe Artichoke plants closely resemble thistles, featuring leaves that look like oversized silver-green ferns and flower stalks that can reach heights of up to 5 feet. Typically, the unopened flower buds are harvested for their delicious hearts, but if left to bloom, they produce striking, vibrant lavender flowers.

These artichokes thrive in moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil and require full sunlight. It is advisable to space the plants about 5 feet apart. They may enter a dormant phase during hot summer months and will die back in winter. In frost-free regions, they can live for many years and bloom continuously throughout the year, but they can also be cultivated as annuals for a fall harvest. To enhance their chances of surviving winter, it is beneficial to apply a thick layer of mulch.

Artichokes are derived from the Cardoon, which is cultivated for its edible leaf stalks, and they share many characteristics with it. Over time, artichokes have been selectively bred for taller growth, fewer spines, and larger, more palatable flowers.

For further details, refer to information on Cynara cardunculus.