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Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus
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 partpart of Cardoon is its thick leaf stalk, which can be blanched with mounded soil.
Growth Type:
PerennialColor(s):
PurpleHardiness Zones:
Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10Location at Monticello:
Vegetable GardenPlanting Conditions:
Full SunBlooming History:
2001 Jul 7 to 2001 Aug 92002 Jun 14 to 2002 Aug 242003 May 23 to 2003 Jul 142004 May 25 to 2004 Jul 192005 May 27 to 2005 Jul 202006 Jul 11 to 2006 Aug 172007 Jul 6 to 2007 Jul 202008 Jun 28 to 2008 Aug 12009 May 29 to 2009 Aug 42011 Jul 7 to 2011 Jul 152014 Jul 10 to 2014 Jul 302018 Jul 14 to 2018 Aug 15
Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for seeds or plants of Cardoon.