Cynara cardunculus
(Cardoon)
Family - Asteraceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - Southwestern Europe, Northern Africa
Year of Introduction - 1658
Season of Interest - Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H6
Height - up to 2.5m
Width - 1.2m
Location - The Cool Garden
Description: A large and bold clump-forming herbaceous Perennial with an upright habit. Striking silver leaves are long and deeply cut with spiny margins and pointed tips. Large, thistle-like flowers are an intense shade of violet. The flowers are held singly or in small Corymbs on stems up to 2.5m tall and are produced from mid to late summer. The flower heads are good for cutting and also dry well. Attractive to pollinating insects.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM.)
Flower:
Large, thistle-like are a bright shade of violet. The flowerheads have spiny bracts and are held on tall, branched, upright stems in July and August.
Flower colour: Purple
Flower shape: Thistle-like flowerheads (capitulum) held singly or in small corymbs
Flowering time: July, August
Foliage:
Deeply cut pinnatifid leaves are silvery-grey with spiny margins and are pointed at the tips. The leaves are held at the base of the plant and Alternately arranged on the tall stems.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Pinnatifid
Propagation:
Seed, division or root cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil.