Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
A large, thistle-like herbaceous perennial with deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves and large flower buds composed of thick, overlapping bracts.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Requires consistent moisture during growth. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Drought tolerant once established, but inadequate moisture can affect bud development.
- Growth
- Stout, clumping perennial forming a rosette of large leaves, reaching mature heights and spreads of 3 to 4 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Grow in full sun with well-drained, fertile soil. Water deeply and regularly during the growing season, and feed with a balanced organic fertilizer monthly.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Requires consistent moisture during growth. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Drought tolerant once established, but inadequate moisture can affect bud development.
Soil
Rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a neutral pH range between 6.5 and 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA hardiness zones 7 through 11, often grown as an annual in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Stout, clumping perennial forming a rosette of large leaves, reaching mature heights and spreads of 3 to 4 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Summer to early autumn, producing large, globular flower heads with purple or blue ray florets surrounded by prominent, thick bracts.
Propagation
Propagated via seeds, root divisions (offsets or suckers known as 'slips' removed from the base), or crown divisions in early spring.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and slugs. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and root rot can occur in poorly drained soils.
Similar species
Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis), which is grown primarily for its edible leafstalks rather than flower buds, and various wild thistle species which lack the exceptionally thick, rounded bracts.