Cardoon

Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus 'Cardy'
Genus: Cynara
Species: cardunculus
Cultivar: 'Cardy' ...

Cardoon
An artichoke relative (obvious when you look at the two plants side by side), this has edible stems and thistle-like flowers. But most people grow it for its architectural good looks. It gets very tall (to 12 feet) in the Northwest.

Cardoon is an architectural splendor with bold texture, thanks to its large, prickly, almost dagger-shaped gray-green arching leaves and a statuesque, vase-shaped frame. It is topped with round, purple, thistlelike flowers in midsummer.

Cardoon, artichoke thistle, wild artichoke
(Cynara cardunculus)
Click on graphic for larger image
Artichoke, Cardoon ...

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) Towering stalks topped by purple, thistle-like flowers; 2.5 m, Zone 7
Fuller's teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) Thistle-like flowers on stems up to 2 m, Zone 5 ...

Gigante Cardoon ( Cynara cardunculus )
Gigante Catalogno Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum )
Gigantea ( Nymphaea lotus var. gigantea ) ...

artichoke thistle, cardoon, desert artichoke, globe artichoke, Scotch thistle, Spanish artichoke, wild artichoke
Family ...

artichoke thistle; cardoon Cynara cardunculus
Asian bittersweet; Asiatic bittersweet; Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculata
Asian flat sedge Cyperus amuricus
Asian melastome; Indian rhododendron Melastoma candidum ...

The artichoke and the cardoon, another horticultural race of C. cardunculus, have been cultivated for centuries-the former for edible phyllary bases and receptacles, and the latter for edible stems and leaf rachises.

Use the smaller ones as fillers around bold plants such as yuccas, cannas, or cardoon.
The fern-like foliage of signets such as those in the Gem series nicely accents more vibrant flowers like zinnias.

Cynara cardunculus (cardoon) P: silver foliage
Elaeagnus angustifolia S/D: silvery leaves
Eucalyptus gunnii T/E: silvery-grey foliage, best regularly coppiced
Fatsia japonica S/E: large leathery leaves ...

Cynara cardunculus Cardoon
Delosperma cooperi Hardy Ice Plant *
Dianthus gratianopolitanus Cheddar Pink *
Helleborus orientalis Lenten Rose
Heuchera species Coral Bells
Hosta species and hybrids Plantain Lily ...

Nombres relacionados: Alcaucil silvestre (castellano), Asteraceae (familia), Capacaballo (castellano), Cardo (castellano), Cardo de comer (castellano), Cardo do coalho (gallego y/o portugués), Cardo hortense (gallego y/o portugués), Cardoon (inglés), ...

angustifolia (Lavender, Section B) are two dependable clump formers that keep the eyes beguiled in winter. The Salvia (Sage, Section E), and Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender Cotton, Section A) were also looking good. Cynara cardunculus (Cardoon, ...

The leaf stalks can be parboiled and used as a substitute for cardoons[183]. The pith of the flowering stem can be eaten raw in salads, boiled or made into confections[4, 183]. A delicate vegetable, somewhat like asparagus in flavour[4].

See also: Green, Pink, Thistle, Aster, Orange