Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus
A relative of the Globe Artichoke with smaller flowers.
Cardoon is a magnificent perennial native to southern Europe, with spiny, gray-green foliage and purple, thistle-like flowers that grow to five feet. The French first grew it as a vegetable, and Quakers brought it to America in the 1790s. Although related to Globe Artichokes - which Jefferson grew throughout his life - the edible part of Cardoon is its thick leaf stalk, which can be blanched with mounded soil.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
When you're here...
Between April and October, all house tours come with a free guided Garden Tour, or you can explore the grounds on your own with the Bloomberg Connects App
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Seeds Harvested from Monticello
Stock your kitchen with plants grown from historic and heirloom Monticello seeds
