Cardoon Cynara cardunculus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cynara scolymus
- Phonetic Spelling
- SIN-ah-rah kar-DUNK-yoo-lus
- Description
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Cynara cardunculus has prickly, deeply cut, gray-green foliage and tall flower stalks topped with brilliant purple flowers. While it is a perennial, it is often grown as half-hardy annual. Annual plants may not have enough time to grow before flowering, but the large, jagged leaves provide ornamental interest all of its own.
Cardoons need rich, well-drained but moist soil and full sun to grow. They may go dormant in hot summers and will die back in winter. Mulch heavily to aid in winter survivability. Considered weedy in some areas. Be mindful of the spines along the stem, although spineless cultivars exist.
The flowers can be cut or dried and, while edible, are not considered as suitable for eating as Scolymus Group artichokes. Instead, the leaf stalks and root are blanched, harvested, cooked, and eaten as a vegetable.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable Garden- Raised Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Scolymus Group
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Scolymus Group
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cynara
- Species:
- cardunculus
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Leaf stalks are blanched, harvested, and cooked as a vegetable. Roots may also be cooked and eaten.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Vegetable
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large, spiky, thistle-like flowers on tall stalks that bloom to bright purple. Edible like an artichoke, although of lesser quality.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Deeply cut, gray-green foliage with sharp prickles.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Covered in small, sharp prickles; cultivars exist with smooth stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
